Summary
A recentGenshin Impactleak has implied that players will spend the next chapter of Teyvat in long-awaited zones such as Mont Esus, Dornman Port, and Blackcliff Forge. WhileGenshin Impactplayers have Version 5.3 to look forward to, the developers have given the community a tease of upcoming content as well. Seven new characters, including Skirk, will join the playable roster by June 2025, and the map expansion for the Collective of Plenty is expected to arrive in Version 5.4.
However,Shezhnaya inGenshin Impactwas also teased during the recent developer livestream, as the autonomous province of Nod-Krai was confirmed as a playable zone. While Liben teased Nod-Krai in Version 5.1, a reliable source in theGenshin Impactcommunity claimed that the region would have a bigger role than most players may expect. Namely, the leak revealed that Nod-Krai would be released in Version 6.0, while Shezhnaya itself would be held back for Version 7.0.
Despite the reliability of the source, the leak was met with a lot of controversy, as manyGenshin Impactplayers were looking forward to seeing Snezhnaya in 2025. A separate leakshared by Flying Flameclaims that not only will Snezhnaya debut in Version 7.0, but much of Version 6.x will instead focus on adding new zones to all currently-released regions of Teyvat. While not outright stated,Genshin Impactzonessuch as Dornman Port have long been teased, and would be prime candidates for an Interlude Chapter focused on wrapping up loose ends.
Genshin Impact: What Will Version 6.x Be About?
If Snezhnaya does end up delayed until 2026, Nod-Krai will likely be the main hub for the Traveler in the next Archon Quest Chapter. Depending on how Natlan concludes its story in Version 5.3, the Tsaritsa will be in possession of all seven Gnoses, and will be able to enact the next stage of her plan. WithGenshin Impactintroducing Skirkas a playable character, it’s safe to assume that her knowledge of the Abyss and the Descenders will play a major role in the upcoming Chapter.
If the Tsaritsa plan triggers a war against the Abyss (or even Celestia), then it’s likely that such a conflict would engulf more than just Snezhnaya. Under these circumstances, a Version that takes place all over Teyvat makes plenty of sense, and was arguably teased by certainGenshin Impactcharactersin recent Flagship Events. Varka has yet to return from his expedition, Dottore has yet to set Irminsul ablaze, and Durin has yet to awaken. There are plenty of story threads that Version 6.x could tap into, even without taking place in the heart of Snezhnaya.
Since a confrontation with the Tsaritsa likely sets up theendgame ofGenshin Impact’s story, Version 6.x may likely be the only opportunity for the narrative to give these plot points the care and attention that they deserve. After all, there’s no reason to believe thatGenshin Impactcan’t do a shorter Version cycle. Version 6.0 is expected to launch on June 09, 2025.
