With the release of Genshin Impact version 2.7 postponed indefinitely, developer HoYoverse announced on Thursday (5 May) that the delay before the new version will be filled by an extension of the current character and weapon banners for Kamisato Ayaka and the Mistsplitter Reforged.
In addition to the extension of the current banners, the extended duration for version 2.6 will also see the return of the 'Overflowing Mastery' and 'Marvelous Merchandise' events as well as the arrival of the new 'Spices From The West' event.
Kamisato Ayaka and Mistsplitter Reforged banners extended
The banners for Kamisato Ayaka and the Mistsplitter Reforged would have ended on May 10, a day before version 2.7 would have released, had it not been postponed.
Both banners have now been given an extended run with the end date yet to be confirmed.
If you check the banners in-game, they will show they have over 240(!) days remaining. Don't worry, this doesn't mean that version 2.7 won't come until the end of the year.
This just means that HoYoverse have not yet determined a new release date for 2.7 and have thus extended the 2.6 banners indefinitely.
With the Kamisato Ayaka and Mistsplitter Reforged banners extended, players who lost the 50/50 or were running out of time trying to pull for them now have a better chance to acquire the 5-star Cryo sword DPS and her signature weapon.
If you’re having second thoughts on pulling for Ayaka, then take it from us, she’s one of the best DPS characters in the game thus far.
Her signature weapon, the Mistsplitter Reforged, is also a great investment.
"Zephyr of the Violet Garden" Version 2.6 Events Preview - Phase III
Hello Travelers! Let's take a look at the upcoming events!
See Full Details >>>https://t.co/zSESipyG89#GenshinImpact pic.twitter.com/YQ6LBm1nnN
— Genshin Impact (@GenshinImpact) May 5, 2022
New Events
The extended phase for version 2.6 will feature three events: Marvelous Merchandise, Spices From The West, and Overflowing Mastery.
The Marvelous Merchandise event will see the return of fan-favorite NPC Liben, who will give players rewards like Primogems, Hero's Wit, and more in exchange for a random assortment of items.
After exchanging items for rewards five times, Liben will give players even more rewards.
The Marvelous Merchandise event will run from 6 to 13 May.
The second event of the extended version is called Spices From The West, in which players will create seasonings in order to obtain rewards.
The event was previously cancelled due to the ongoing maintenance of the Serenitea Pot, which was central to the event mechanic. This could also mean that the month-long Serenitea Pot maintenance is about to come to an end (and so will your free Realm Currency).
Spices From The West is set to run from 14 May to 7 June, though that does not necessarily mean that the delay before 2.7 will last until early June.
We can only speculate about the release date of the new version until HoYoverse makes an official announcement.
Finally, the Overflowing Mastery event is set to return from 22 to 29 May 22. Players can challenge Talent Level-Up domains and get double the usual amount of rewards using Original Resin three times a day for the event's duration.
Why is version 2.7 delayed?
HoYoverse did not explicitly state the reason behind the postponement of version 2.7's release.
China implemented lockdowns last month amid Omicron variant outbreaks in the mainland, with most of the cases being concentrated in the cities of Shanghai and Beijing as well as the neighbouring province of Jilin.
HoYoverse's parent brand, miHoYo, is notably headquartered in Shanghai, where citizens have struggled for food and other supplies due to the stringent lockdown.
Genshin Impact players have previously speculated on how the lockdown has affected the game's developers due to the 'Spices from the West' event in version 2.6 being quietly scrapped and maintenance on the 'Serenitea Pot' feature beginning around the same time lockdowns began in Shanghai.
Earlier this month, HoYoverse told Kotaku that it had closed its physical office in Shanghai and started providing supplies to employees, who have begun working from home.
"Our team in Shanghai is now working from home and doing our best to organize all the online work. We have also been providing necessary supplies to Shanghai team members at this special period," said HoYoverse.
"While the distance may bring challenges in communication and everyday tasks, it is vital to protect the health and safety of team members here."
But with version 2.7 now being postponed, it seems the situation for the Genshin Impact developers may still be impacted.
We can only hope for cases in Shanghai to go down and for the lockdown to cease.
Yan Ku is a full-time dog parent, part-time (gacha) gamer, and part-time writer.
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