Summary
A reliable source in theGenshin Impactcommunity has stated that, contrary to earlier rumors, Version 5.8 will feature no new characters.Genshin Impacttends to release 17 characters per patch cycle. While this isn’t an official rule, it has been true since the launch of Inazuma in Version 2.0. Assuming Aloy counts as playable, Inazuma, Sumeru, and Fontaine all had exactly 17 characters spread throughout the game’s updates.
This is important information to keep in mind, as Natlan currently has 14 characters released between Version 5.0 and Version 5.6. The debut of Skirk and Dahlia in Version 5.7 will up that number to 16, leaving one slot potentially available. While there were earlier leaks of anew Hydro character coming toGenshin Impactin Version 5.8, there is a high likelihood that HoYoverse will instead break another pattern in the Natlan era.
According to Uncle Kokomi(formerly known as HomDGRat), there will be no newGenshin Impactcharactersin Version 5.8. This would make Natlan the first region since the start of the game to not introduce at least 17 characters to the playable roster. Given how enormous the cast of characters has gotten over the years, this may not necessarily be a bad thing. Furthermore, Natlan still has major reruns coming up, such as Chasca, Mualani, and Citlali. Version 5.6 and Version 5.7 are notably dry in the number of Primogems they offer to free-to-play accounts, which means that a patch full of reruns could potentially help players save funds for Nod-Krai.
Genshin Impact Might Have No New Characters in Version 5.8
That being said, it’s also important to address the elephant in the room: Natlan’s strange content schedule. ManyGenshin Impactplayers were exhausted by the content drought in Natlan, as it only had two map expansions by the end of Version 4.4. By comparison, Fontaine had four map expansions within the same time span. While Tollan and the Collective of Plenty were beloved additions to the world of Teyvat, another content drought awaits players on the way to Mare Jivari in Version 5.8. It remains to be seen how HoYoverse will handle the patch cycle forNod-Krai inGenshin Impact, but the community has expressed hopes for better content pacing.
Though it’s fair to feel disappointed by the lack of new characters in Version 5.8, it should be noted that even reliably leaked information is subject to change. Itto famously had his Event Banner pushed back during the Fontaine era, and a significant number of sources mistook Lan Yan for Madame Ping in the Natlan era. For now, players should look forward toSkirk and Dahlia inGenshin Impact, whose beta testing has proven to be rather eventful. Both characters are expected to debut on July 20, 2025, while Version 5.8 is set to release on Jul 03, 2025.
