'Genshin Impact' unveils first look at long-awaited Snezhnaya; here's what to expect

At long last, "Genshin Impact" has given a peek at its players' next destination, the final nation: Snezhnaya!

Since the video game launched to immediate and massive popularity in 2020, Snezhnaya has been a present force in the story, despite it never appearing on screen. Ruled by the mysterious Tsaritsa, it is one of the seven nations of Teyvat, the land of the Cryo (ice), and the stronghold of the Fatui.

In a live program titled "To Snezhnaya and the Future" on Friday, the dev team shared a quick teaser of Snezhnaya, showing a snowy city atop icy cliffs, a train chugging towards it.

Combat designer Aquaria said that Snezhnaya being known for its harsh and figid climate, they took inspiration in countries in Eastern Europe and regions near the Arctic Circle, where people build houses of ice and snow.

But that's not all that was revealed.

The plot thickens

The Travelers' journey began in Mondstadt, and from there, they've visited Liyue, Inazuma, Sumeru, Fontaine, and Natlan over the course of the past six years.

Once players arrive in Snezhnaya, the last of the seven nations, they would reach the endgame.

"Starting from Snezhnaya, you're going to see the evolution of 'Genshin Impact' really start to accelerate," R&D Engineer Xiaodan said. "This acceleration will unfold at key moments in the future. Just as we did when the Teyvat chapter first launched, we've brought some important ideas and fresh perspectives to the industry."

Snezhnaya being the home of the ancient race of the Fae — whose ranks include newly introduced characters Flins and Linnea — the upcoming region would explore this faction, along with the Angels and the Descenders.

Finally, some answers

Since the beginning of the story, the Tsaritsa of Snezhnaya has been pursuing a mysterious agenda, dispatching Fatui Harbingers to collect the Gnoses of the other archons.

Due to this, Snezhnaya has initially come across as "sinister and highly threatening." Over the past six years, however, Aquaria said, "Travelers have come to realize that Snezhnaya is on its own path of defiance against fate."

"You could even say that among the seven nations, Snezhnaya stands at the very forefront of the struggle against fate, the most proactive, and the most resolute of them all," Aquaria said.

What has the Tsaritsa and the Fatui up to this whole time? This will be "fully revealed over the course of Snezhnaya's chapter," the devs promised.

New combat mechanics

A core pillar of the gameplay in "Genshin Impact" is the elemental reactions in combat.

By this point, players know that Cryo can help trigger freeze, superconduit, and melt — but apparently, it will soon be able to do more.

"Beyond simply triggering elemental reactions, Cryo will be able to destroy, shatter, and even reshape the battlefield terrain, influencing enemy movement paths," Xiaodan said.

This expands combat interplay to include the environment.

Even the train carriages in Snezhnaya might play a role bigger than just aesthetic.

"What kind of gameplay can we fit inside these carriages? Or even better, can they be more than just a means of transportation? These are the questions we find ourselves exploring and debating throughout the design phase," Xiaodan said.

Theme song for Snezhnaya

The devs haven't forgotten how players place importance in each nation's music!

Aquaria revealed the inspiration behind the Snezhnaya scoring.

"For Snezhnaya, our musical direction draws from classical symphonic traditions, including more solemn, weighty pieces that reflect a long history of struggle," he said.

New enemies

The Fatui is known to be the most powerful military force in Teyvat.

The devs said that by design, the Fatui is highly organized so "their combat style should reflect that tactical coordination, such as watching each other's backs."

"So in the Snezhnaya version, we've tried to make enemy behavior more organized and disciplined," Aquaria said.

"On the one hand, this adds more dynamism to combat," he added. "On the other hand, it opens up more interesting strategic counterplay for players."

Traveler upgrades

Lumine and Aether are getting new skins!

The special program shared a glimpse of new designs for the protagonists: coat and trousers for Aether, and a long sleeved mini dress and stockings for Lumine.

The outfits are blue, and they both get winter gloves.

Beyond the skin, Aquaria teased a "brand new gameplay completely different from the game as you know it."

"So you might imagine what only a Descender could possibly do," he said. "Perhaps even more surprising than the underwater exploration introduced in Fontaine."

Is this the end for 'Genshin Impact'?

The long-running story of "Genshin Impact" is set to conclude in Snezhnaya, but is it really the end for the beloved game?

"The word 'conclusion' itself carries a sense of melancholy," Aquaria said. "It represents a player's recognition of everything we've created so far. Yet at the same time, it also feels like it seals away all future possibilities for the work."

Aquaria added that for him, and for many players around the world, "Genshin Impact" is no longer just a story.

"It has become part of our lives," he said. "Please rest assured, we will neither rush toward a forced or inexplicable ending to the story, nor extend it purely for commercial reasons."

"We believe that this journey carries its own meaning, in the past, in the present, and in the future as well," he added. "As a product, evolution is an ongoing and perhaps eternal challenge."

Xiaodan said that they believe that a truly moving work is never built on fleeting trends, and that's why "Genshin Impact" has come this far.

"If we were able to surprise the world back in 2020, then five, ten, or even twenty years from now, we believe we'll still be able to do the same," he said.

"What defines a lasting IP is a commitment to high-quality content and consistent creation over time. In Snezhnaya, we'll continue to uphold this philosophy, transforming bold ideas into new experiences that players can see, play, and truly feel," he added. —JCB, GMA News