Highlights

  • HoYoverse continues to impress fans with crossovers, and fans think that Boothill and Arlecchino could be another potential connection.
  • Despite clear similarities in character design and potentially similar antihero roles, there's no evidence that Boothill and Arlecchino are the same. Still, HoYoverse emphasizing alternate versions of characters could lead to a connection being established.
  • The HoYoverse multiverse expands with each new release, promising more crossovers and connections between successful gacha games like Honkai: Star Rail and Genshin Impact.

It's no secret that HoYoverse loves crossing over its characters in all of its games, and Honkai: Star Rail showcases this perfectly. The game includes many alternate versions of Honkai Impact 3rd and Genshin Impact characters, such as Acheron being the third version of Raiden. Recently, two new characters caught the attention of HoYoverse fans because of how similar they look: Honkai: Star Rail's Boothill and Genshin Impact's Arlecchino.

Both Boothill and Arlecchino were revealed on their respective games' social media pages in the same week. The characters have the same black and white hair, and their outfits also share the same color palette. Many Honkai: Star Rail and Genshin Impact fans think that there may be a multiversal connection between the two, though there is a chance that this is just a mere coincidence.

Genshin Impact characters
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Boothill and Arlecchino Share Similarities, But Not Exactly

Arlecchino was first released as part of Genshin Impact Version 4.6's banner. Known as "The Knave," she is one of the Eleven Fatui Harbingers who wields powerful Pyro abilities. She is also the director of the House of the Hearth, where she raises and trains orphaned children, including Lyney, Lynette, and Freminet.

Right off the bat, Genshin Impact fans got a glimpse of Arlecchino's heartbreaking backstory, which gave the impression that she might not be as ruthless as the other Harbingers. Despite her dark appearance and terrifyingly strong abilities, Arlecchino has a more empathetic side, especially toward children, due to her harsh upbringing. This contrast is probably what makes her similar to Boothill.

Meanwhile, Boothill will be released in Honkai: Star Rail Version 2.2 in May, so his full lore is still under wraps at the moment. But what is known about him is he is a cyborg Galaxy Ranger who is trying to enter Penacony, as he was the original recipient of The Family's invitation and not Acheron. He's described as "extremely optimistic and unrestrained," and is dedicated to bringing justice to each world he journeys to. Just like Arlecchino, Boothill may have a threatening appearance and job, but he's portrayed as either a good character or an antihero. He can't even curse because someone messed with his Synesthesia Beacon, replacing cuss words with cute phrases. Likewise, Honkai: Star Rail fans could find more similarities between the two characters once Boothill's full lore has been revealed in Version 2.2.

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  • Genshin Impact's Arlecchino: 5-star Pyro Polearm wielder
  • Honkai: Star Rail's Boothill: 5-star Physical character following the Path of The Hunt

Apart from their appearance and potential antihero storylines, there's no evidence of Arlecchino and Boothill being the same exact people or having a direct relationship. In the past, HoYoverse made it clear that alternate versions of characters aren't necessarily the same as the originals. For example, Bronya has multiple versions across Honkai Impact 3rd and Honkai: Star Rail, but they're mostly considered as individual entities.

The HoYoverse Multiverse Continues to Grow

With Arlecchino and Boothill showing how HoYoverse could creatively design alternative versions of characters, fans can expect more crossovers in all of its titles in future updates. A lot of eyes are on Honkai: Star Rail and Genshin Impact as two of HoYoverse's most successful gacha games, so the developer will most likely introduce more crossovers in these games.

Likewise, the upcoming HoYoverse game Zenless Zone Zero already shows a connection to Honkai: Star Rail through playable character Koleda Belobog, who shares a name with one of Star Rail's cities. There are already a lot of expectations for Zenless Zone Zero to succeed, so HoYoverse might just use this as an avenue to further expand the multiverse through new characters and Easter eggs.