Genshin Impact developers just announced that the game is getting a new PvE trading card mode. Developers miHoYo hosted a live stream today going over the new features coming to the game in its upcoming 3.1 update. However, they also teased content coming in later updates, such as Genshin Impact’s upcoming trading card mode.
Released on Android, PC, iOS, and PlayStation, Genshin Impact combines console-quality graphics and gameplay with mobile game sensibilities, such as the randomized gacha pulls that players use to unlock new items and characters. That combination seems to have succeeded, with the game bringing in a record-breaking $3 billion in its first year of release.
Given the game’s popularity, thousands of fans worldwide tuned in to the “Special Program” on September 13th, covering Genshin Impact’s 3.1 update. About 39 minutes into the broadcast, developers revealed the Genius Invocation Trading Card Game, which is coming to Genshin Impact during the planned Update 3.3. Designed as a “light and casual” PvE mode, players can earn rewards by challenging NPCs in 1 vs. 1 card battles. Players can also challenge their friends, but developers specified that the Genius Invocation TCG would not offer any PvP rewards. They did, however, add that players will be able to unlock all the cards through regular gameplay.
Genius Invocation is an established part of the game’s lore. Invented by researchers from the Sumeru Akademiya, it’s a popular card game in Genshin Impact’s world of Teyvat. The game has a particularly strong following in the countries of Inazuma and Sumeru, with several characters depicted as fans of the game. But unfortunately, there wasn’t much information on how the game is played.
Today’s video wasn’t much help in that area either, showing only a few seconds of gameplay. However, Genshin Impact leaker UBatcha described the trading card game in a series of tweets. According to the leaker, players start by drawing five cards, then choosing one to be their Active Character. Both players then get to Roll 8 Elemental dice, which determine the actions they can take during the round. Once both players have ended their turn, they each draw two cards. Each card also seems to have hit points, as indicated by the clip shown during Friday’s reveal. Finally, players win by defeating all their opponent’s cards.
During the stream, developers explained that the Genius Invocation Trading Card Game is still being tested and optimized. Therefore, it’s hard to say how closely the version described in the leaks will line up with the finished game. For now, fans will just have to wait until Genshin Impact’s 3.3 update eventually arrives.
Genshin Impact is available now on Android, iOS, PC, PS4, and PS5, with a Switch version in development.
