I am excited to share a compelling theory that connects the world of Genshin Impact to a broader universe, which seems to gain traction following the latest lore revelations from developer HoYoverse. This action RPG has made significant strides in its narrative, traversing six of Teyvat’s seven nations, with only Snezhnaya left to explore, and potential journeys to Khaenri’ah and Celestia ahead. Based on the current trajectory of the story, it appears that reaching Celestia will mark the climax of the Traveler’s adventure.
Exploring the Connection Between Genshin Impact and the Honkai Universe
Potential Integrations as Genshin Nears Its Conclusion
As the game approaches its narrative conclusion, there exists the possibility for a seamless transition into the expansive Honkai universe. Despite both franchises’ efforts to maintain separate realms, recurring themes suggest that a crossover is feasible if HoYoverse opts to intertwine their narratives. Notably, the conflicts involving the Heavenly Principles, the Abyss, and the Unknown God in Genshin Impact appear to echo the Stellaron Crisis narrative from Honkai: Star Rail, albeit from a localized perspective.
How Genshin Impact May Align with the Timeline of Honkai: Star Rail
The Threat of a Stellaron Crisis to Teyvat
While no direct link has yet been established between these titles, numerous overlapping events hint at a potential connection. One prominent theory posits that the sky in Teyvat may be an illusion, a fabricated construct by the gods to exert control over their inhabitants. This theory gained additional validation in the recent Version 5.5 World Quest, where the Traveler observes a significant crack in the sky—distinguished from previous Abyssal cracks by its apparent lack of Abyssal influence. This phenomenon may suggest that the skies of Teyvat are indeed fabricated, hinting at a greater cosmic isolation.
The lore aligns with the recent introduction of the three moon sisters surrounding Teyvat—entities revered by the ancient Dragon Sovereigns long before humanity’s reign. These sovereigns originally wielded elemental powers that were later confined to Archons after the arrival of the Heavenly Principles, referred to as the Primordial One in the game’s lore.
A Descender, indicating a being from outside Teyvat, suggests that the Heavenly Principles are an entity that could originate from the wider Honkai universe. This connection brings us back to the Heavenly Principles, a formidable force that effectively holds Teyvat captive, utilizing the Archons to govern each region. Its overwhelming control mirrors that of Emanators and Aeons seen in Honkai: Star Rail. In-game canon posits that despite Teyvat’s flourishing civilization, it is on a path toward destruction, possibly under the influence of the Heavenly Principles.
The adversary Nanook in Honkai: Star Rail seeks destruction, with agents actively destabilizing worlds. This scenario could parallel the narrative of Teyvat, where the story unfolds on a micro scale. While the cosmic struggles of Honkai deal with large-scale crises, it seems Genshin’s story may touch on similar themes.
Despite relying heavily on theory crafting, narrative threads in both games exhibit striking similarities. On Honkai’s Amphoreus planet, for instance, the locals are largely unaware of surrounding civilizations due to manipulations by powerful entities—similar to Teyvat, where the Heavenly Principles governs knowledge and interactions.
Future Crossover Potential Between Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail
The Game is Approaching the Conclusion of its Main Story Arc
The execution of Genshin Impact’s overarching narrative unfolds at a measured pace, prioritizing regional arcs to sustain intrigue around the Traveler’s journey through Teyvat. However, as we near Snezhnaya, possibly preceded by Nod Krai, the narrative tension escalates with increasing lore revelations. I anticipate significant insights about Teyvat and its cosmological position to emerge during or after the Snezhnaya storyline.
If my theory linking both game universes holds truth, I predict a connection will emerge during the Khaenri’ah arc or upon reaching Celestia, where the Traveler confronts the Heavenly Principles and unveils the Unknown God. This might pave the way for defining the future trajectory of Genshin Impact post-main storyline. HoYoverse has previously demonstrated their adeptness at revitalizing their franchises.
In 2024, Honkai Impact 3rd transitioned from its conclusive story arc to initiate Part 2, introducing a fresh narrative set in the same universe with new characters. This could serve as a framework for Genshin Impact as it addresses the potential Stellaron Crisis, allowing the Traveler (and their sibling) to navigate new realms within the Honkai universe while retaining the beloved action-oriented gameplay mechanics of Genshin Impact.