In an unexpected twist, Genshin Impact is bringing Horizon Zero Dawn’s protagonist to the ever-growing world of Teyvat. This is, frankly, a bizarre yet wonderful crossover that shows the strength and breadth of Genshin‘s cast potential. With Horizon developer Guerrilla Games signing off on a deal with miHoYo, we can probably anticipate more developers popping in with iconic characters in the years to come. This Genshin Impact news is hot off the press, so the question instantly springs to mind — “how to get Aloy?” Let’s dive right in.
Who is Aloy?
For those unfamiliar with this terrific heroine, let me briefly touch upon who she is and why this matters. Horizon Zero Dawn is a fantastic game that happened to release right around when The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild hopped onto the gaming scene and still managed to hold its own (unlike a certain starry-eyed competitor). The vivid, mysterious planet Aloy inhabits is filled with mechanical dinosaurs that really pack a punch, as well as merciless human hunters who won’t hesitate to shoot first and ask questions… never.
Aloy’s quest is what makes this Genshin Impact news so meaningful. Far from a damsel in distress, the young lady is driven, steadfast, and downright determined to solve the myriad mysteries around her. She is, simply put, one of the strongest female protagonists in gaming.
I’ve spoken with many women over the four years since Horizon Zero Dawn was released who have praised her characterization as inspirational. By taking such an important figure to Teyvat, miHoYo isn’t just making money. It’s making a statement. “We like cool characters who are influential in all the best ways.”
How to Get Aloy
You’d be forgiven for jumping straight ahead to this subsection. After all, there’s a good chance you’re already familiar with Aloy, so this news that she’s arriving in Genshin Impact soon is what you want to read up on ASAP.
It’s actually straightforward to get Aloy, which is a relief, to say the least. However, it involves making sure you’re logged in at a specific point in time. You don’t want to mess this up, or you can be sure you’ll need to drop cash on her later on. All travelers who have reached Adventure Rank 20 (or higher, of course) won’t need to worry about how to get Aloy. She will arrive through the mail system at the appointed time. Aloy is a five-star character called “Savior from Another World,” which is fairly fitting. Her type is Cryo, which feels more like it was drawn from a hat, but hey.
When Can I Receive Aloy?
Knowing what to do is only half the battle here. Thankfully, this Genshin Impact news update has us all covered in terms of when to log in as well. There will be two phases, meaning you’ll have two chances to get Aloy; here’s when (and how) this will occur.
After the Version 2.1 update, all travelers who log into the PS4 or PS5 versions of Genshin Impact will receive excellent news: Aloy is now theirs for the keeping. The beginning of Version 2.2 maintenance will begin on October 13th, so you might think that’s it for the first phase. And technically, that’s true. But the second phase starts at this time, and it’s a better one.
With Version 2.2, which will run from October 13th until November 24th, it won’t just be Sony console players who are treated to Aloy. It makes sense that PlayStation gets the “Savior from Another World” first, seeing as she’s a PlayStation heroine and all. But players on other systems will finally be able to join in the fun. Just make sure you know how to get Aloy before November 24th because Phase 2 is the end of free Aloy!
There’s Actually An Extra Reason to Get Aloy on PS4 and PS5
Unfortunately for folks playing on other hardware, there is another reason to know how to get Aloy on PlayStation besides just snagging her early.
The Genshin Impact news we’ve received today also mentions that Aloy will come with an exclusive four-star bow that grants her a special buff. But indeed, it’s only for those who side with Sony. So if you’ve got Genshin Impact installed elsewhere but happen to own a PS4 or PS5, take care to consider whether or not that bow is enough reason to hop over to where Horizon Zero Dawn all began.
