What To Expect For 'Genshin Impact' With The 2023 Release Of Fontaine

Fontaine is the next playable region on schedule for HoYoverse's "Genshin Impact" for 2023 after the release of the Dendro region of Sumeru.

The next nation players will be able to explore in the online game "Genshin Impact" is the nation of Fontaine, one that has taken inspiration from the Belle Époque period that started during the Third French Republic with an emphasis on machinery and inventions. Fontaine is known as the nation of Justice and its ruler is the Hydro Archon Focalors.

Fontaine has been mentioned throughout quests in Mondstadt, Liyue, Inazuma and Sumeru with elements of the nation put on show. There's been NPCs and inventions used, such as the Kamera gadget that was developed in Fontaine and, as the name suggests, allows players to take photos. The NPC merchant Francis also hails from Fontaine and recent game events have drawn inspiration from Fontaine and showcase items from the nation of Justice.

HoYoverse had, when the company was still known as miHoYo, released a roadmap of sorts during its GDC 2021 conference that confirmed all the remaining nations within the game would be released by 2025. The nations of Mondstadt and Liyue, along with the region of Dragonspine, had served as the opening nations and the remaining nations would be released on a staggered schedule. Inazuma was released July 2021 and Sumeru was released Aug. 2022. This leaves Fontaine for 2023, Natlan for 2024 and then Snezhnaya saved for last in 2025.

Assuming the release schedule stays the same, Fontaine would be released in Sept. 2024 and the following nations in October and November, respectively.

There have been leaks from data miners claiming that HoYoverse's previously revealed roadmap has been doubled into either a 10 or 12-year roadmap. While leakers for "Genshin Impact" have been accurate more often than not, the new roadmap remains to be seen. Originally leaked in the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor Discord by known leaker Arkywz, it was also revealed that the delayed roadmap would feature new content to maintain the constant updates and lore drops "Genshin Impact" is known for.

Aside from the tenuous release date, there's quite a bit that's been confirmed about Fontaine when through in-game lore drops and HoYoverse promotions.

Although Fontaine is the nation of Justice, the NPC Liben has explained that the current Fontaine is both dangerous and oppressive with citizens believing that "judgment" is "soon to come." That line mirrors the revealed title of that region's Archon Quest, "Masquerade of the Guilty."

Each Archon Quest focuses on the player aiding or opening the eyes of the ruling archon of each region and the title provides hints to the storyline. As Fontaine is based on the Third French Republic and the current ruling Archon isn't the first Archon of the region (unlike Mondstadt and Liyue), discontent and unjust trials will most likely occur within Fontaine. Players have already learned from the Fontaine Lochfolk spread throughout Teyvat that this entire species went into self-imposed exile after the current Hydro Archon took power in Fontaine.

The storyline preview released by HoYoverse showed NPC Dainsleaf summarizing the Fontaine Archon Quest by saying that "the God of Justice lives for the spectacle of the courtroom, seeking to judge all other gods. But even she knows not to make an enemy of the divine."

There's another hint to the Hydro Archon found in in-game items. One is an ascension material for leveling up Hydro characters that features an inscription by the current Hydro Archon. "My ideals have no stains. I must correct you. People here bear no sins in the eyes of the gods...Only laws and the Tribunal can judge someone. They can judge even me. So praise my magnificence and purity," reads the Varunada Lazurite Gemstone associated with the Hydro Archon Focalors.

Asides from the hints dropped by HoYoverse about Focalors; the Genshin Impact Leaks Reddit has compiled now-deleted tweets from the official "Genshin Impact" Twitter that offers insight into Fontaine and leaks from data miners. The latest leak comes from reputable Twitter source SusAmongusLeaks and shows a steampunk-inspired city rising out of what looks like a waterfall, referencing previous Fontaine descriptions from NPCs.

Various Fontaine NPCs outside of the nation have explained that their home country exists within waterfalls and high up in the sky, relying on machines with similar principles to dirigibles for travel, but with the caveat that Fontaine's energy sources are dwindling.

As the most technologically advanced out of all the nations in Teyvat, Fontaine will have a variety of secrets for players to uncover when the region is released.