Genshin Impact, the popular action role-playing game from miHoYo (now HoYoverse), first arrived on the scene on September 28, 2020. It launched worldwide for PC, iOS, and Android devices, with the PlayStation 4 version also releasing on the same day.

When Genshin Impact first dropped, it made a big splash. I remember seeing all the hype online, with everyone comparing it to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild because of its open world and exploration. I was a bit skeptical at first, thinking it might just be another mobile game clone. But then I saw my friend playing it on their PC, and the graphics looked incredible for a free game. That's when I decided to download it myself, mostly out of curiosity. I was instantly hooked by the freedom of exploring Teyvat and uncovering its secrets.

The Journey of Teyvat's Release

The development of Genshin Impact actually started back in January 2017, with a growing team working to bring the world of Teyvat to life. It was developed using the Unity Engine and had a pretty big budget, making it one of the more expensive video games to create. Before its official launch, miHoYo revealed the game at E3 in June 2019, building up a lot of excitement.

After its initial release in September 2020, Genshin Impact continued to expand its reach to more platforms. A PlayStation 5 version was released on April 28, 2021, offering enhanced graphics for players on the newer console. The game is regularly updated, following a "games as a service" model, meaning new content, characters, and regions are added all the time.

I also remember when the first major updates started rolling out. I was really looking forward to Dragonspine, which was added in version 1.2. The snowy mountains and new puzzles were a fun challenge, and it felt like the game was constantly getting bigger and better. It's wild to think how much the game has grown since that first release, with so many new areas and characters introduced. It really shows how much effort the developers put into keeping the world fresh.

Genshin Impact quickly gained positive reviews, with people praising its engaging combat and vast open world. It also became incredibly successful financially, earning billions in its first year, which was a record for a video game.

If you're diving into the vast world of Genshin Impact and want to make some in-app purchases to get those awesome new characters or weapons, you can use Playstorm to earn rewards. Simply play free games on the Playstorm app, then redeem your earned points for Apple or Google Play gift cards to use in Genshin Impact.