Genshin Impact Reveals New Characters Xianyun and Gaming for Version 4.4

Highlights

• Version 4.4 of Genshin Impact will introduce two new Liyue characters, including Cloud Retainer, and open the Chenyu Vale for players to explore.
• Xianyun is a 5-Star Anemo user and Gaming is a 4-Star Pyro character that many fans hope wields a sword.
• Before the release of Version 4.4, players can expect a quieter update focused on quality-of-life features.

Genshin Impact has revealed two new Liyue characters that will be making their playable debut in Version 4.4, with one of them being Cloud Retainer herself. While the Lantern Rite in Genshin Impact is always an exciting time for the game, the upcoming Version 4.4 has the potential to be its best iteration yet. Not only will it finally mark the release of Cloud Retainer, a popular character that’s been part of Genshin Impact since Version 1.0, but it will also open the long-awaited Chenyu Vale for players to explore.

Chenyu Vale in Genshin Impact is the next Liyue zone to be released after The Chasm made its debut in Version 2.6 and will seemingly connect Mondstadt, Fontaine, and Liyue together. This leaves the door open for the rumored Remuria zone to launch in Version 4.6, before Genshin Impact slowly sets the stage for Natlan proper.

Xianyun and Gaming Are Joining Genshin Impact In Version 4.4

Though Cloud Retainer leaks in Genshin Impact have been plentiful since Fontaine opened its doors to the Traveler, HoYoverse finally confirmed that Xianyun would be joining the roster of characters in Version 4.4. As a 5-Star Anemo user, she will be joined by Gaming, a 4-Star Pyro character that many Genshin Impact fans are already hoping wields a sword. Gaming went through many design iterations before his debut, and players will likely recognize him as Jiaming or “Lion Dance Boy” from earlier leaks.

Gaming appears to be the Liyue equivalent to Dehya, a fearless mercenary character with a Lion theme bearing a Pyro Vision. He works for the “Sword and Strongbox” and his title is Leonine Vanguard. By contrast, it would seem that Xianyun is Cloud Retainer’s incognito name in Liyue Harbor, where she has decided to join mortal society by posing as an artisan.

Before these characters can make their debut in Version 4.4, players have a chance to save up their Primogems with a quieter update that instead focuses on quality-of-life features. That being said, the Event Banners for Version 4.3 in Genshin Impact are not to be underestimated, as Navia is expected to provide a fun alternative to Geo Claymore gameplay.

In addition to Navia, fans will also have a chance to wish for Ayaka, one of the strongest DPS characters in the game, as well as the Raiden Shogun, a permanent fixture in many Genshin Impact team compositions. While Version 4.4 is only expected to launch in February 2024, players should still be careful with their Primogem spending if they want to summon Cloud Retainer to join their party.