HoYoVerse released the fifth preview trailer for the big version 5.8 Genshin Impact. And while showering the players with free Primogems and teasing the summer holidays in Natlan, the absence of any new 5-star skin has thrown the playerbase into a tizzy.
Almost right at the eruption of the hype, the official Twitter prosecco-on-the-house account, Genshin Impact, dropped codes for the redemption of 300 Primogems (close to two free pulls, so not bad!) with florid writing urging players to quit their in-game duties for “free food, lodgings, and attractions” in the soon-to-be-open Natlan region. A certain chill vibe for real-world summer is on the way!
Comment section went berserk with character skins, which is normal in all things gaming. Some of the better opening strikes came from ArkhinPriest, who thundered: “why a 4 star skin again?! why only Diluc have a 5 star skin? why? GIVE NEW 5 STAR SKIN” – all caps. This evolved into a whole thread, where users debated the skin situation, Carrie (@ClsScience) observing, “there is a Yelan skin too. They always do a 4 star with a 5 star.” Arkhin came back to confirm that the Yelan skin is indeed inferior, just 4-star.
Another user wasn’t feeling the hype for the update, with ZenOđ’‰ murmuring, “we dont care + Umamusume clear your game.” Serving honesty on no skip button comes from gametijdnl1 level with “no skip button mean game its L” – next-level shorthand!
Set in Natlan as a permanent summer spot, the preview also teases the ancient dragon civilization and visitors from Nod-Krai (new faction alert?). Then, there is that other mention of a letter from the Grand Master, which is enough to send lore-crazed people into a tizzy. And let’s be honest here: most people want to know when we get more premium skins that aren’t for Diluc.
That is precisely how the famous drama around the Genshin Impact update goes—developers seem to drop massive content full of freebies and story hooks, but the community zeroes in on one vexing issue. People have been unhappy with the skin system ever since the game was launched and, in the nearly four years of the game’s existence, there has probably been only one 5-star worthy skin actually released.
300 Primogems are nice (can redeem it until August 16th, mind you), but three hundred gems are just two pulls, which isn’t much help against the gacha addiction. Still free is free; the redemption keys are all over the place on Ganmin and on many Discord servers.
Describing Natlan brings to mind a vacation spot, which is interesting considering this is a nation with a Pyro Archon, all about war. Before this war breaks out, we might be surprised to get some slice-of-life content? And it might be a surprise joke from HoYoVerse, which wouldn’t be their first.
The update preview also casually brings in ‘visitors from Nod-Krai’ and ‘stories of the ancient dragons’ civilization.’ Given that, some lore theorists are dissecting those phrases frame by frame already. Nod-Krai just sounds like it’s borrowed from Honkai Impact, true to HoYoVerse’s multiversal shenanigans.
Whatever the case, Genshin Impact 5.8 seems ready to be filled with the usual HoYoVerse mix: extravagant freebies, crumbs of lore, and one or two questionable decisions that’ll keep everyone arguing till the next update. Will it fill the demand for premium cosmetics? Probably not. But let’s put it this way: 300 Primogems mean at least two chances to lose 50/50.
So put this on your calendar and remember to redeem the codes before they expire. Maybe start stockpiling a few Genesis Crystals now — HoYoVerse might just drop a 5-star that isn’t for Diluc. Stranger things have happened in Teyvat already.
