Genshin Impact’s 1.4 update is dropping next week, and miHoYo has offered a preview of what’s to come, which includes the Windblume Festival and dating sim-like Hangout events.
The Windblume Festival, which requires an Adventure Rank of 20 or more and the completion of the Song of the Dragon and Freedom Archon Quest, is a celebration that originated with the liberation of Mondstadt but is now a “cultural celebration of romance and passion”. This gives players the chance to hang out with Barbara, Noelle, Bennett, and Chongyun in dating sim-like sessions, with dialogue options that affect the outcome and an illustration reward upon getting the true ending.
If you’re not into visual novels or those four characters, the festival will also offer various minigames, most of which can be played solo or in co-op. They include Bullseye Balloons (archery), Floral Freefall (gliding), and Ballads of Breeze. Completing the mini games will give players rewards (claimable once) and Festive Tour Tickets for exchanging in the Event Shop, which will have the new exclusive Windblume Festival Commemorative Balloon and Windsong Lyre.
Another festival-themed event is the Peculiar Wonderland, which presents players with three random challenges. “Depending on the performance in the random challenges, players will gain buffs to use in a final boss fight,” explains miHoYo in a PlayStation blog post. “By completing the Peculiar Wonderland, players will receive Peculiar Collab Coupons, which can be exchanged for Weapon Ascension Materials and a brand-new 4-star bow, the Windblume Ode.”
Outside of the Windblume Festival, the main story will continue with the Traveler investigating the Abyss Order with Dainsleif, with a new enemy in the form of an Abyss Herald making an appearance. 4-star polearm-wielding character Rosaria “Thorny Benevolence”, who can shift behind an enemy to deal Cryo damage, will be added to the game, and there will be reruns of Childe and Venti’s banners. Players will also be able to have up to five Condensed Resin in their inventories and the ability to lower their World Level with the new update.
Update 1.4 will drop on March 17.
