Leaks concerning Genshin Impact Version 1.6 continue to show up online, pointing to all sorts of new content allegedly coming in the next update. This includes multiple new playable characters like Kazuha, Ayaka, and Yoimiya. Of these, the least is known about Yoimiya right now. So, will she actually be playable in Genshin Impact 1.6?
Due to the Genshin Impact 1.6 beta test, many players have gotten to see early glimpses of the new content. Just like with the 1.5 beta, leaks have started appearing online. Boat travel and the new Inazuma region are just some of the content that's been leaked out already. This has also led to some datamining, though, which allegedly shows a new playable character named Yoimiya.
At this point, not a whole lot is known about Yoimiya. Whereas other leaked playable characters like Kazuha have a character model to show off, Yoimiya's appearance is still a secret. According to the information that was leaked, Yoimiya is a 5-star Pyro user. She also uses a bow in combat, essentially making her a more powerful version of Amber, who is one of Genshin Impact's weakest characters. Assuming this information is all true, does that mean Yoimiya will actually be playable in the 1.6 update?
Why Yoimiya Might Not Be Playable In Genshin Impact 1.6
Typically, leakers have a good track record with playable characters in Genshin Impact. Previous datamines have proven to be fairly accurate, so there are plenty of reasons to think the latest Yoimiya rumors have some credence. However, just because Yoimiya shows up in the game's code, particularly that she's mentioned in Ayaka's voiceover, doesn't necessarily mean she'll be playable in Version 1.6.
Plenty of characters in Genshin Impact have first appeared as NPCs before becoming playable at a later time. This most recently happened with Rosaria, and it's expected to happen again with characters like Baizhou and Scaramouche. So, Yoimiya may certainly be a character in the 1.6 content, but she may not be playable just yet.
The other playable characters leaked for Version 1.6, Ayaka and Kazuha, already have character models that have surfaced or been featured previously. So, it seems more likely that they'll appear in the next update as Banners. However, until developer miHoYo officially confirms new characters, there's no way to know for sure. So, while Yoimiya seems like she'll be a character in the new content, she may not be immediately playable in Genshin Impact 1.6, which is set to release in June.