The Genshin Impact account has released the very first information about the new area of the Luna IV update, and to be honest?? It sounds a little bit insane. They have given it the name Nod-Krai, which in translation means ‘the northernmost edge’ and gave it the title ‘the foremost front line’. A little bit dramatic, to say the least, but also, definitely, yes please. The most crucial thing is that the so-called ‘Wild Hunt’ is still quite far off, and we have no idea what it is—definitely not the Witcher crossover most of us want to see secretly—and the land has emerged as a great protector.
The holy pillar is glowing, the plants and trees are getting their strength, and the entire area is changing its mood to a grand awakening call to aid its defense. Just like that. Not too bad! Simultaneously, they mentioned ‘kuuvahki’ that will be used against the Abyss, which is a new term that is creating everyone to wonder whether it is a gadget, a power, or an entirely new combat style. The vibe is very ‘nature strikes back’, and after a long period of fighting the Abyss, having the environment as an ally is quite a cool plot twist.
When the players got the news they just went berserk and immediately started replying everywhere. It is a wonderful mess over there. Very fast were the references coming. One user got the glowing pillar and exclaimed, ‘It’s the eye of Sauron!!’ along with a photo of the famous Lord of the Rings eye, which…well, okay, that’s a fair point. Another just commented, ‘No friking way… Are we in Mordor with the new area?’ So, the Tolkien vibes are definitely strong with this one. But soon it took a turn when someone posted a cute animal from the promotional art and said, ‘Please! This is adorable. It’s like playing Pokémon!’ Thus, in the Genshin community, we have a fusion of Middle-earth and Pokémon which is the most precise description of this fanbase ever.
The hype combined with the complaints of the old-school Genshin players. The never-ending debate about the banners burst forth right away. One user, Black_Hole_9000, quoted the announcement and attached a screenshot of a character with the caption, “Reminder: Chronicle doesn’t count.” This started a discussion about the Chronicled Wish banner system, with some saying it’s the best way to get older characters and others countering that it shouldn’t be considered a ‘real’ rerun. This is the kind of detailed gacha drama that only comes across as hilarious if you’ve been playing for three years, but it’s really fun to watch from the outside.
Meanwhile, other players were just making their desires known. ‘BRING CHIBIS BACK PLEASEEEEEEEEEEEEEE,’ one user pleaded, referring to the old chibi-style character art that accompanied updates. Another one requested, ‘PLEASE TAKE SCARAMOUCHE’S CLOTGES OFF IN 6.3’ which is…quite a strange request. And, of course, someone asked, ‘How can I make this about Furina?’ because every Genshin discussion is eventually going to return to the Archons.
Nonetheless, the thrill of new areas to explore is still very strong. A user remarked, ‘Finally map expansion update in my exploration game,’ with a celebratory GIF attached to it. Another player proclaimed, ‘this quest sounds more epic than my last raid!’ The entire region to be uncovered together with the legend of the land’s resistances are just the right type of content that attracts players to come. It is no longer just about having new characters to pull for; it is about being able to explore a new world.
Even when all the joking about Sauron and Pokémon is going on, the underlying feeling is pure excitement. Players are more than willing to give it another go, to use that new ‘kuuvahki’ thing, and to see what will happen when the trees decide that the Abyss has been silly for too long.
The entire reveal shows that Genshin Impact’s strategy is still the best one when the game developers design a gigantic and mysterious world. By portraying the new area as a living, and fighting entity, the creators have very smartly seized the core players’ wish of exploration and discovery, which had been the primary drawing card in the first place.
The immediate chaotic and highly referential response of the community indicates that the players’ interaction with this world is really deep even when they are only joking about Sauron. The fourth part of the Luna update not only signifies another rise but also a crucial alteration in the storyline. This news is also being discussed by players on PlayStation and Xbox platforms.
