Genshin Impact’s ‘When the Sakura Blooms’ update arrives on Feb. 16
Genshin Impact’s latest update, dubbed “When the Sakura Blooms” is set to arrive shortly after Valentine’s Day.
The free-to-play game’s 2.5 update set to arrive on servers on Feb. 16 includes plenty of fun activities to keep players busy, including new characters, new bosses, the ability to design your own domain, and a bartending mini-game.
Game developer miHoYo officially revealed the patch in a livestream and trailer last Thursday, Feb. 3.
In the game's 2.5 update, players will be able to explore the mysterious depths of Enkanomiya, the game’s newest region, and unravel the mystery of the glowing tower covered in darkness.
In a new event called “Three Realms Gateway Offerings,” players will be able to battle their way through the darkness, using a new item to cleanse themselves and help resist the evil corruption.
“When the Sakura Bloom” brings new story quests as well, following the Raiden Shogun and Yae Miko, a new five-star character for players to unlock. Yae Miko is a pink-haired mage who uses lightning strikes to burst enemies in front of them.
miHoyo also unveiled a new preview page for the upcoming update on Monday, Feb. 7.
Dear Travelers,
— Genshin Impact (@GenshinImpact) February 7, 2022
The Version 2.5 "When the Sakura Bloom" Preview Page Is Here!
Go to V2.5 "When the Sakura Bloom" Preview Page >>>https://t.co/nUigotiBkG
※ Open the event webpage from within the game and share the page to get 20,000 Mora#GenshinImpact
Players will be able to create and share their own custom domains in "Divine Ingenuity," a new system where players can publish their designs, build traps and set completion criteria, to challenge other Travelers.
There’s also a new bartending minigame called “Of Drink A-Dreaming” event that lets you mix ingredients with a QTE at Diluc’s tavern, to serve to other characters which unlocks dialogue with them.
After last week's livestream, miHoYo also tweeted out details for a highly anticipated character looking to make his way into the roulette sometime soon: Kamisato Ayato. Ayato is a sword-wielding Hydro character who can attack with a katana made out of water.
"The game of politics is fraught with peril. My Lord does not take any joy in these 'battles.' For him, it's just... a matter of duty" — Thoma
— Genshin Impact (@GenshinImpact) February 4, 2022
◆ Kamisato Ayato ‧ Pillar of Fortitude
◆ Head of the Kamisato Clan
◆ Hydro
◆ Cypressus Custos#GenshinImpact pic.twitter.com/IFLNmM7PHl
Genshin Impact continues to be one of the most popular games globally, and was Twitter's most Tweeted about game in 2021.
The action role-playing game first published in 2020 beat out many other heavyweights to nab the top spot, including Apex Legends, Ensemble Stars!, Final Fantasy, Fate/Grand Order, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Knives Out, Minecraft, Project Sekai, and Fortnite: Battle Royale.
The official Genshin Impact Twitter account has amassed over three million followers, with tweets sharing game updates and events and new character reveals regularly getting thousands of interactions.
The game looks like it's set for even more growth this coming year, with the new region of Enkanomiya introduced in the 2.4 update, and the arrival of highly anticipated characters and events. The studio has teased a new map in the Liyue region, coming in patch 2.6 later this year.
Genshin Impact Version 2.5: When the Sakura Blooms will be available on Feb. 16, 2022.