Hello, Travelers! Your Genshin Impact dev team is here to meet you again. After two months in the Nation of Wisdom, the next update is now confirmed to arrive on November 2. With Version 3.2 “Akasha Pulses, the Kalpa Flame Rises,” we will finally come to the very moment where Sumeru’s fate will be decided. Team up with Nahida, Layla, and more reliable allies to find out more!

Beyond the Archon Quest, a series of fun events will take place, including “Fabulous Fungus Frenzy” where Travelers can catch and train Fungi. Besides, we’d like also like to announce that Genshin Impact will include Italian and Turkish subtitles starting from Version 3.3! We can’t wait to see more players from diverse backgrounds joining us in the future!

The Dendro Archon and the Man-Made God

After experiencing the Sabzeruz Festival samsara and surviving the journey through the desert, we will finally reach the end of the Sumeru Archon Quest arc. Picking up right where we left off, Nahida has been confined in the Sanctuary of Surasthana by The Doctor. As the Dendro Archon, the Akademiya and the Grand Sage, two Fatui Harbingers, desert-dwellers, and all other important players enter the scene, the final chapter will push the story to the climax.

Although the Traveler will receive support from many allies, including insiders like Cyno, the General Mahamatra, and Alhaitham, the path to save Nahida and Sumeru will be fraught with difficulties, as will the epic fight against The Balladeer. Different from The Balladeer we’ve encountered before, the third Fatui Harbinger boss that we are destined to fight comes in the form of a massive mechanical-looking puppet crafted by the Akademiya and The Doctor. To defeat this boss, you will have to survive two combat phases. In the first phase, The Balladeer’s upper body will take the stage with gigantic mechanical arms, along with several types of elemental powers and abilities, including attacks that create huge Hydro tornadoes, Electro beams, and burning or freezing fields.

But you will not fight alone. A floating device will accompany you throughout the combat and help turn the tide in the second phase. After The Balladeer transformed into this massive form, your regular attacks will no longer do any damage. The floating little helper will be the only one capable of breaking through his defenses and attacking the boss’ weak points.

The end of the Archon Quest does not mean the end of our journey in Sumeru. Whether it’s the mysteries from the past or changes in the future, there are still lots to be uncovered.

More Allies From Sumeru

After accompanying the Traveler on their long journey, Nahida is finally ready to join the cast as a playable five-star Dendro catalyst user. Meanwhile, Layla, an Akademiya student with an unusual ability, will be joining as a four-star Cryo sword user.

Since her birth, Lesser Lord Kusanali, also known as Nahida, has yet to set foot in

Last week, we asked you to share the terrifying yokai of Ghostwire: Tokyo using #PSshare #PSBlog. Here are this week’s spooky shares: 

Gurararala shares a headless schoolgirl dashing through the street.

VrPhotoGamess shares faceless suited men with broken umbrellas skulking around a green-lit hospital.

snkn_shito shares Akito sending a round red blast of energy from his hands.

SSoulpants shares a stories-tall translucent monkey-like yokai walks through the streets.

holy_mashirina shares a female yokai in a red trench coat standing menacingly at the end of a street.

sparkling_Port9 shares Akito stands in the rain

Search #PSshare #PSBlog on Twitter or Instagram to see more entries to this week’s theme. Want to be featured in the next Share of the Week? 

THEME: A Plague Tale: Requiem 

SUBMIT BY: 11:59 PM PT on October 26, 2022

Next week, we journey to medieval France to watch Amicia and Hugo survive among the rats and dangers of A Plague Tale: Requiem. Share your best moments using #PSshare #PSBlog for a chance to be featured.

Our return to Midgard and the rest of the nine realms is nearly here. God of War Ragnarök launches on PS5 and PS4 on November 9, and I’ve had the lucky opportunity to scout ahead and go hands on with the PS5 version of Kratos and Atreus’ continuing journey.

No big story spoilers lie ahead in this article – and that’s just fine because there’s tons to talk about in terms of pure gameplay, visuals, inventive new enemies, locations, and more. Without mentioning specific characters or moments, I will say this sequel doesn’t wait long to deliver memorable, unexpected moments with a diverse cast of mythical characters.

Read on to learn about God of War Ragnarök’s familiar-yet-fresh combat, deadly new enemies, exotic locales, and more.

Mythical immersion on PS5

Winter wonder – The world of Midgard sparkles on PS5 thanks to crisp 4K visuals and fluid framerates (I played in Performance mode). Fimbulwinter is creeping across the lands, including Kratos and Atreus’ homestead. Snow crumbles and parts as characters trudge through it, with light catching tiny ice crystals on its surface. Frozen waterfalls stand like intricate, towering art pieces. The atmosphere of this snow-covered Midgard captures the serene vibe of a winter walk in the woods perfectly.

Haptic immersion – Santa Monica Studio has taken full advantage of the DualSense wireless controller’s haptics. One sequence involves dogsledding away from a violent avalanche. The DualSense controller’s haptics thrummed in my hands, conveying both a deep rumble of rushing land and lighter clumps of snow tumbling about. In combat, the Leviathan Axe packs an extra visceral punch, and when the boomeranging weapon is recalled the haptics gradually swell until the axe lands in hand with a meaty thud. The range of haptics also brings texture to subtle moments, like Kratos laying his weary body down in his cot to sleep.

Versatile combat options

Settling back in – I’ll admit it took me until the back half of God of War (2018) until I felt proficient with the new combat mechanics. The intimate camera position, ranged and melee Leviathan Axe, and abundant combat options overwhelmed me a bit. In contrast, picking back up Kratos’ axe and Blades of Chaos at the beginning of God of War Ragnarök filled me with confidence and a lust for battle. Wielding both weapons at the outset encouraged me to make more complete use of Kratos’ arsenal, and it’s a blast.

Death From Above – Kratos can now take a sprinting leap off a cliff and slam into enemies below – a furious intro to any group fight that stuns enemies. The new combat option is a potent example of God of War Ragnarök’s increased focus on verticality in the environment.

Stay frosty – The triangle button, used for equipping and recalling the Leviathan Axe, can be pressed when held to apply a Frost Awaken effect to your next melee or ranged attack. Pressing R1 during Frost Awaken executes Frozen Breach – a wide swing and applies Frost to nearby enemies. Aiming while pressing R1 during Frost Awaken executes Frozen Spike – a quick throw of the Leviathan Axe that creates

Since the Family Portrait series began five weeks ago, we’ve had the great pleasure of showcasing works created by a fantastic group of artists.  These portraits showcase key relationships that are foundational to God of War Ragnarök. 

Now that the series has wrapped, we’ve put together a gallery featuring all five works on the God of War Ragnarök website and sized them for desktop wallpapers so you can bring the gallery to your home(screen). You can download them together here or get them individually below. 

But that’s not all! 

We wouldn’t conclude the series without adding an extra special touch. Not only have we animated each of the works, but we also borrowed Mimir to provide some of his keen insights into our portrait’s subjects!

Drew Merritt – The Bear and the Wolf   

Drew Merritt’s portrait of Kratos and Atreus, the bear and the wolf, captures the familial relationship of our heroes. The father and son pair have endured many trials together on their quest to scatter the ashes of Faye (Kratos’ wife and Atreus’ mother) atop the highest peak in all realms. After the events of God of War (2018), Kratos and Atreus become the close family unit that Faye always hoped for 

But Atreus is no longer a child in God of War Ragnarök. Training relentlessly under the watchful and protective eye of his father, he has grown to be a skilled fighter with the quickness and cleverness of the wolf.  Atreus knows some questions have answers that can only be reached beyond their frozen home in Midgard. 

The snows of Fimbulwinter herald the coming of Ragnarök and signify an ever-increasing danger to all inhabitants of the Nine Realms. Now more than ever, Kratos must prepare Atreus to fight and survive as he was once taught. Protective and cautious like the bear guarding its young, Kratos would do anything to keep his family safe. 

Download a wallpaper version of Drew Merritt’s The Bear and the Wolf here. 

Emma Ríos – The Dwarves 

Emma Ríos’ portrait of the Dwarves gives you a glimpse at some new faces alongside the familiar Huldra brothers, Brok and Sindri. 

While they have had their differences in past, Brok and Sindri mended not only their business relationship, but their brotherly bond as well. Both master smiths, they have provided Kratos and Atreus much needed gear improvements countless