A well-regarded insider within the Genshin Impact community has recently revealed that, contrary to earlier expectations, the upcoming Version 5.8 might not introduce any new playable characters. Typically, Genshin Impact has followed an informal trend of releasing about 17 new characters with each major patch cycle. This pattern has largely held true since Version 2.0, which marked the beginning of the Inazuma region’s storyline. When considering Aloy as a playable character, the previous regions—Inazuma, Sumeru, and Fontaine—each contributed exactly 17 characters to the roster across their updates.
This pattern is especially important when looking at the current status of Natlan. Between Versions 5.0 and 5.6, Natlan has already introduced 14 characters. The addition of Skirk and Dahlia in Version 5.7 will bring that total to 16, meaning there is theoretically only one spot left for a new character if the traditional cycle were to continue. Earlier leaks had hinted at a new Hydro character possibly arriving in Version 5.8, but recent insider reports suggest that this may not happen, implying that HoYoverse might break the long-standing character release pattern during the Natlan era.
The source, known as Uncle Kokomi (formerly HomDGRat), has stated that no new characters are expected in Version 5.8. If this proves true, Natlan would be the first region since the game’s inception to not reach the 17-character milestone within its story arc. While this may come as a surprise, it might not be entirely negative given how vast the game’s roster has become over the years. Natlan still has several important rerun banners lined up, featuring popular characters such as Chasca, Mualani, and Citlali. These reruns could be a welcome change for free-to-play players, especially since Versions 5.6 and 5.7 have offered relatively low amounts of Primogems, the game’s premium currency. A patch focused on reruns could give players a chance to save their resources in preparation for the upcoming Nod-Krai content.
That said, there is another concern: the pacing of content releases in Natlan has already frustrated many players. Compared to other regions, Natlan’s expansion schedule feels sparse. By the end of Version 4.4, Natlan had only seen two map expansions, while Fontaine had already received four. Although areas like Tollan and the Collective of Plenty were well-received additions to Teyvat, the player base now faces another content drought as the game moves toward the Mare Jivari region in Version 5.8. The community is hopeful that HoYoverse will improve the content pacing for Nod-Krai, but uncertainty remains.
Even though the leak about Version 5.8 lacking new characters might disappoint some fans, it’s important to remember that leaks are not always set in stone. For example, the release of Itto’s event banner was delayed during the Fontaine period, and several sources incorrectly identified Lan Yan as Madame Ping during Natlan’s rollout. Until official announcements are made, players should focus on the characters confirmed for the near future. Skirk and Dahlia, both of whom have gone through lively beta testing phases, are scheduled to debut on June 18, 2025. Meanwhile, Version 5.8 itself is expected to launch on July 30, 2025, leaving fans plenty to look forward to despite the uncertainty about new character introductions.
