Last Updated on June 26, 2025 by Dante

Earlier today, HoYoverse dropped a rare behind-the-scenes look into Nod Krai, the next major region coming to Genshin Impact.

This was less than a trailer and more of a candid developer discussion revealing artistic direction, long-term story goals, and the next phase of the Traveler’s journey.

If you missed it, here’s the full link:

Let’s break it down.

Moonlight, Conflict, and the Fatui

The developers confirmed that Nod Krai is a region torn by ideology. One faction seeks to protect the ancient power of the moon, while another aims to harvest it—regardless of the consequences.

The developers revealed that Teyvat once had three moons, so we’ll have to stay tuned to know what happened, as moon energy predates the seven elements (Anemo, Geo, Electro, Dendro, Hydro, Pyro, and Cryo).

This builds directly on the Natlan Archon Quest, where Mavuika warned of a Fatui stronghold in Nod Krai.

• This may signal a major shift in the Traveler’s relationship with the Fatui.
• The uneasy tension of previous regions could be giving way to open conflict.
• From this point forward, the Fatui may no longer be allies, informants, or rivals—but enemies.

Will We Finally Meet Grandmaster Varka?

The developers dropped an intriguing line:

“The first thing someone wants to see when entering a new country is a familiar face.”

That seems like a strong hint toward the long-awaited appearance of Grandmaster Varka, the leader of the Knights of Favonius. He’s been traveling abroad for years—and Nod Krai could be where we finally meet him.

UPDATE:

Yes, Thoma confirmed that Varka is indeed in Nod Krai:

A Shift in Storytelling Direction

The devs were honest here.

Originally, Genshin’s story was about traveling through the seven nations and reuniting with the Traveler’s sibling. But five years in, the world has expanded so much that they now feel a need to slow down and resolve key arcs.

With Nod Krai, they’re pivoting toward closing loops, answering long-standing mysteries, and raising the stakes with each encounter.

A Fictional Region with Real-World Inspiration

One of the biggest surprises?

Nod Krai is Teyvat’s first truly fictional region, meaning it isn’t directly modeled after a real-world country or culture like Inazuma or Sumeru.

That said, the team cited Celtic and Norse mythology as inspiration—particularly in how those traditions frame the moon, spiritual forces, and dualities of destruction and rebirth.

But Nod Krai is its own entity.

It’s new ground for Genshin—and that creative freedom is already showing.

The devs also talked about their love for The Witcher 3 and War of Warcraft which is pretty cool and exciting if they may use some their influences here.

Actually, one of the key factions in Nod Krai is “The Witch Hunt” which is a direct reference to the 2015 masterpiece, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.

Dangerous New Monsters Ahead

Nod Krai sits on the edge of Teyvat, in an area long corrupted by high-intensity abyssal energy. That means it’s teeming with creatures warped by the abyss—including Rifthounds and likely others we’ve never seen before.

The devs mentioned that because of Nod Krai’s location, other nations have never conspired to invade. That statement alone says a million things.

This region isn’t just about exploration.

It’s a battlefield.

The Fatui Are Coming—And They’re Aggresive

While we still don’t know which Fatui Harbingers will appear, it’s safe to say we will get an appearance from the top brass.

We can confirm through the Knave’s story quest that the Traveler isn’t stronger than her, and she’s ranked fourth.

The Captain held the top rank and went toe-to-toe with Mavuika, the only one of his organization to fight an Archon. It’s mentioned also that the top three Fatuus hold powers that rival a god.

That means the Traveler may finally face enemies too powerful to defeat alone.

I think Dottore will play a huge role here because he seems like the information gathering type, almost like Orochimaru from Naruto.

Out of all the Fatuus, he seems to be the most evil and if moon energy is up for grabs, he’d be the most likely candidate to claim it.

Expect brutal boss fights, political escalation, and perhaps some powerful allies stepping in to help tip the scales.

Genshin’s Long Game

The developers also spoke about Genshin’s fifth anniversary. After visiting Tokyo for PlayStation’s 30th anniversary celebration and meeting the Final Fantasy dev team, they were inspired to think more long-term.

Genshin isn’t just about finishing the Seven Nations arc anymore.
It’s about building a world with legacy. A franchise that can stand the test of time.

My Prediction: Snezhnaya Is Further Away Than We Thought

Many fans expected Snezhnaya to arrive in 2025.

Based on this new direction? That’s unlikely.

The developers mentioned that this new update will cover about a year of time. That means we won’t get to see Snezhnaya until 2026.

While some may assume HoYoverse is stalling for financial reasons, the reality seems more nuanced.

There’s simply too much rich lore still unresolved—too many dangling threads that deserve closure before we reach the final act.

And that’s a good thing.

Because when HoYoverse takes its time (and makes a ton a money), we get regions like Fontaine and Sumeru—deep, layered, unforgettable.

Final Thoughts

Here are my final thoughts and takeaways about Nod Krai:

• Nod Krai is a turning point in Genshin Impact and will reveal the inner workings of the Fatui, the ancient history of Teyvat, and maybe clues on the Traveler’s lost sibling.
• Snezhnaya isn’t coming this year.
• Dottore is going to be the enemy here, and if was strong enough to force a negotiation with Nahida… oh boy…
• It’s not just another nation—it’s a test of the Traveler’s power and purpose.
• We’re walking into a full-scale conflict.
• And the past five years of lore are about to converge.

I’m hyped for this new update!

And, if you are too…?

Check out the news and updates of the latest Genshin 5.6 update.