Genshin Impact has launched the closed beta for Patch 1.2 in China. Leaks from the test show new playable characters and a new snowy area.
Where do the leaks come from? With the release of Update 1.1, the developer miHoYo immediately started working on the next upcoming content of Genshin Impact. Accordingly, the closed beta for Update 1.2 started on the test servers in China.
Some participants of this beta have posted on reddit and social media screenshots of what players can expect in the update. Additionally, more images have been datamined from the beta code.
Dragonspine Mountain as a new area
This is the new area: Along with the patch notes for Update 1.1, miHoYo also released a small roadmap of upcoming updates. Patch 1.2 is planned for December 23 and will bring a new area: Dragonspine Mountain.
On Twitter and reddit, there are now screenshots of the area and an image of the map:
Particularly striking in the images are the red crystals, which strongly resemble Dvalin’s corrupted tears. It is also suspected that a temperature system will be introduced in the game and that players will freeze on the mountain, similar to Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
Albedo, Ganyu, and Xiao
Players on reddit and social media speculate that the three characters Albedo, Ganyu, and Xiao will soon be playable, but it is not confirmed that this will happen in Update 1.2.
The dataminers and beta players have at least discovered their own Gacha artworks:
This is Albedo: On the left side of the image, you can see the character Albedo, who has been mentioned multiple times in dialogues and the lore of Genshin Impact. He is an alchemist and the mentor of the character Sucrose. He also leads the Investigation Team of the Knights of Favonius as captain.
The “chalk prince” Albedo is considered a genius, well-liked in Mondstadt, and is said to be good with children. Even the impulsive Klee listens to his instructions. Gameplay-wise, he is a Geo character who uses a bow.
This is Ganyu: On the right side of the image, you can see Ganyu, who is the ambassador and secretary of the Liyue Qixing. You can encounter her in the game during the main story.
Ganyu is a calm and reserved character, deeply devoted to the Geo God Rex Lapis. Keqing suspects that such blind devotion was triggered by a formative event in the past. Ganyu also uses a bow, but with the Cryo element.
This is Xiao: This Anemo character, who uses a spear, was already playable in one of the closed beta tests of Genshin Impact. However, he was removed before the release, and fans expected him to be added back later.
Xiao is a mysterious young man whom you encounter during the story. He always behaves politely and calmly and prefers to think through his actions logically before acting.
There are rumors that despite his youthful appearance, Xiao is thousands of years old. One should not be deceived by his polite nature, as he is said to be extremely dangerous and a powerful fighter.
Dataminers have found a whole range of other characters in the beta client of Genshin Impact, who may soon appear in the game.
