Rumor: Genshin Impact Version 4.4 Will Expand Old 1.0 Area

Highlights

• Genshin Impact leaks suggest that Chenyu Vale will finally close the gap between Stormterror’s Lair and Qinqce Village, which has been an eyesore for some players.
• Chenyu Vale is the northernmost part of Liyue and is highly significant to Genshin Impact’s lore.
• Version 4.4 of Genshin Impact is also expected to introduce new skins in the Genesis Crystal store and a new playable character, Cloud Retainer.

Travelers may rejoice, as recent Genshin Impact leaks suggest that the awkward gap between Stormterror’s Lair and Qinqce Village will finally be closed with the launch of Chenyu Vale. When Genshin Impact initially launched, it only had Mondstadt and Liyue as playable regions, and Stormterror’s Lair represented the final zone of its Prologue – a way for players to demonstrate their knowledge of exploration mechanics before moving on to Liyue proper. While Genshin Impact added several new zones in the meantime, Stormterror’s Lair and Liyue remained separated by an unplayable border, which has since become a bit of an eyesore to certain players.

Initially teased by Zhongli, Chenyu Vale is the northernmost part of Liyue that connects the Geo Nation with Lumidouce Harbor in Fontaine. Baizhu’s master lived in Chenyu Vale, and it is strongly suspected that Orobashi was its local deity at some point in Teyvat’s history. It’s a location that has great significance to Genshin Impact‘s lore, which is why players are so excited about seeing Chenyu Vale in Version 4.4.

Chenyu Vale in Genshin Impact Will Connect Liyue, Fontaine, and Mondstadt

As information slowly emerges on the Genshin Impact Leaks subreddit, a recent thread shared by ukrisreng sums up the key additions that Version 4.4 may bring to the game. Not only is Chenyu Vale rumored to have two Statues of the Seven, making it an update comparable in size to the recent Fontaine expansions, but it also may finally close the inaccessible space between Stormterror’s Lair and Qingce Village, if the leak proves true. While it is expected that Genshin Impact players will have an alternative way to reach Fontaine in Version 4.4, the inland sea below Celestia and Bayda Harbor will remain inaccessible for now.

Furthermore, Version 4.4 for Genshin Impact will add Ganyu and Shenhe skins to the Genesis Crystal store, while Xingqiu is expected to receive a free skin obtained through the Flagship Event centered around the Lantern Rite festival. Though players have been hoping for HoYoverse to add alternative outfits at a quicker pace, Version 4.4 is set to debut three skins at the same time – a first for the game.

The new playable character making her debut in Genshin Impact Version 4.4 is Cloud Retainer, an Anemo 5-Star Catalyst who will seemingly run alongside Xiao in the first half of the update’s Limited Event Banners. Cloud Retainer is expected to fill the role of a support and healer, with a focus on providing damage bonuses to Plunging Attacks, which would certainly make her a popular option for Xiao teams in Genshin Impact. That being said, her rumored ability kit still remains subject to change and should be taken with a grain of salt.