Genshin Impact Version 4 Lunar Update Welcomes Columbina and Lantern Rite New Year Festival

HoYoverse has officially announced the first major Genshin Impact update of 2026 with Version 4 Lunar titled “A Traveler in the Winter Night,” scheduled to launch on January 14. This update introduces the long awaited Moon Goddess Columbina as a playable character, welcomes a new Liyue Adeptus named Zibai, and marks the return of the beloved Lantern Rite festival to celebrate the New Year across Teyvat.

As tensions in Nod Krai approach a breaking point, the latest Archon Quest reaches its dramatic climax. After seizing the power of the Lunar Core, Il Dottore continues his dangerous research, leading to an inevitable confrontation with the Traveler and their allies. Empowered by unprecedented forces, Il Dottore draws the battlefield into a distorted domain where the fundamental rules of the world are twisted, plunging the conflict into deliberate chaos. Completing this chapter rewards players with a new Traveler costume that reveals deeper layers of their personal story and elemental power.

Columbina, also known as Hyposelenia, joins the roster as a five star Hydro catalyst character. As the Moon Goddess, she provides exceptional support focused on Lunar Spark reactions. Her abilities allow coordinated attacks to trigger Lunar Spark damage even when she is off field, while her exclusive Lunar Domain significantly enhances all Lunar Spark reactions. These buffs range from additional lightning strikes for Lunar Charged reactions, increased resource generation for Lunar Bloom, and enhanced Moondrift attack counts for the newly introduced Lunar Crystallize reactions. She can also convert Electro Charged, Bloom, and Hydro Crystallize reactions into Lunar Spark variants, and uniquely revive one fallen teammate during Nod Krai exploration.

Version 4 Lunar also introduces Lunar Crystallize, a new elemental reaction that occurs when Geo and Hydro interact under specific conditions. This reaction summons three Moondrifts near enemies, and after triggering three times, Moondrift Harmony activates, dealing Geo damage to nearby foes with the ability to critically hit.

Complementing Columbina’s support role is Zibai, a five star Geo sword user known as the White Horse Adeptus of Liyue. Long referenced in legends and folklore, Zibai fully unleashes the potential of Lunar Crystallize reactions. By entering a special state and accumulating unique energy, she can unleash powerful elemental skills that deal Lunar Crystallize damage. The more frequently these reactions occur, the stronger and more often her skills can be used, allowing her to overwhelm enemies with relentless offensive pressure.

The version’s Wish banners are split into two phases. The first phase features Columbina alongside a rerun of Ineffa. The second phase introduces Zibai and Illuga, a new four star Geo polearm character from the Beacon Guard who fights alongside a companion bird, accompanied by a rerun of Neuvillette. A new Neuvillette costume will also be available in the shop for a limited time at a discounted price.

Nod Krai expands northward for the first time with the addition of Piramida, the headquarters city of the Beacon Guard. Positioned near the sacred Embla Pillar and the Kipumaki Cliffs, this new area becomes the stage for continued resistance against the ongoing Wild Hunt. Players will fight alongside the Beacon Guard and Illuga in a new World Quest that further develops the region’s storyline.

Back in Liyue, the annual Lantern Rite festival returns with a full lineup of activities, rewards, and Adepti focused stories. This year’s celebration coincides with the astronomical phenomenon known as Zhanzhu Devouring the Moon, revealing why the reclusive White Horse Adeptus chose to return to the mortal world. Players can place special Xiao Lanterns throughout Liyue Harbor, write wishes to share with others, collect festive tokens from the Prosperity Tree, and enjoy a variety of themed minigames.

Version 4 Lunar delivers abundant free rewards, including 1,600 Primogems via in game mail, 10 Intertwined Fates from login events, a new Yaoyao costume from Lantern Rite, and the ability to invite one free four star Liyue character. Additional Astral Wonderland rewards are also available, including a special horse plush set and more event exclusive items.

Astral Wonderland further expands with a new Classic Mode, allowing selected characters from Teyvat to join dungeon style adventures. Players can also support in game creators by purchasing colorful surprise gift boxes to unlock additional gameplay experiences.

Genshin Impact Version 4 Lunar launches on January 14 with full cross platform support across PlayStation, Xbox, PC, and mobile devices. The game is rated Teen on console and PC platforms, while the mobile version is rated suitable for ages 12 and up. More details can be found on the official website at genshin.hoyoverse.com.