New updates are always a major source of excitement in Genshin Impact. However, it seems like developer miHoYo is teasing upcoming content even earlier than usual. Fresh off the Version 2.0 update last week, the company is already showing off characters that will presumably become playable in Version 2.1. However, there's most likely a good reason for this.
The 2.0 update for Genshin Impact released on July 21, and on July 22 miHoYo showed off promotional images for Raiden Shogun (Baal), Sara, and Kokomi. Essentially, this confirmed all three as playable characters for Version 2.1, although the timing was a little strange. With 2.0 only being out for a day, it seemed odd to release information on upcoming characters so early. It risked bloating the already long list of Genshin Impact news that had arrived the day before with Inazuma, while also turning fans' attention away from an update that was only 24 hours old.
This isn't the first time miHoYo has shown off characters from a future update ahead of time. Images and info for Ayaka, Yoimiya, and Sayu were shared on Twitter weeks before the official 2.0 livestream confirmed them as playable characters. While those tweets didn't outright confirm them for 2.0 (much like these latest tweets don't confirm Baal, Sara, or Kokomi for 2.1), that proved to be the case. And it's likely these newest teased characters will be playable in the next update. So, why would miHoYo show them off so early?
New characters have always been a driving force in Genshin Impact, so it makes sense that miHoYo would want to promote upcoming additions early on to create more hype. And while the timing of these latest character reveals may seem strange, it's likely that miHoYo did this in an effort to curb leaks from the Version 2.1 beta.
Previous betas caused content and characters to leak online weeks before they were typically officially confirmed. miHoYo broke this trend by announcing Inazuma characters early for 2.0 in June, and it seems to be continuing this effort going into Version 2.1. By showing off characters in new updates early, miHoYo gets to control the news and narrative - rather than leakers from the Genshin Impact 2.1 beta.
The biggest risk here is that some players may get fatigued with new content if miHoYo shows off the latest upcoming characters merely a day after its newest update. It may help the company control the news cycle surrounding its future updates, but players may lose interest if Genshin Impact loses focus on its current content. So far, excitement seems high for Version 2.1, so only time will tell if miHoYo's latest strategy is really paying off.
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