Following pre-installation going live a few days ago, HoYoverse has released Genshin Impact (Free) version 2.8 on all platforms. If you pre-installed it on iOS, Android, or PC, your in-game download will have been drastically reduced for today’s update. On PS5, the update size is 24GB. Genshin Impact 2.8 Summer Fantasia includes the new playable character Shikanoin Heizou, Golden Apple Archipelago arriving with a new look, new island areas to explore, and bond events with Fischl, Xinyan, Mona, and Kazuha. New outfits are also available for both Diluc and Fischl. Barring those, Kazuha’s story quest ‘Acer Palmatum Chapter’ and Heizou’s hangout event will begin soon. Watch a showcase for Shikanoin Heizou below:

Following this update, we will likely keep hearing more for the next major 3.0 update that includes new characters and a lot more. If you haven’t checked out Genshin Impact yet, you can download it for free on the App Store for iOS here and on Google Play for Android here. The PC version is available on the official website here and the Epic Games Store. If you play on iOS, with iOS 14.5 or iPadOS 14.5 and later, you can use PS5 and Xbox Series X|S controllers to play Genshin Impact. We featured Genshin Impact as our Game of the Week when it released and awarded it our 2020 Game of the Year. Have you been playing Genshin Impact recently and what do you want to see it bring this year?