As Genshin Impact moves closer to its highly anticipated Snezhnaya expansion, a newly discovered character leak has become one of the biggest talking points within the community. Fans have spotted what appears to be a humanoid bear NPC in the latest Snezhnaya trailer, leading to speculation that HoYoverse may finally introduce more visually distinct non-human characters in future updates.
The discovery comes just ahead of Version 6.7, the final update before the launch of Version 7.0, where players are expected to explore the Cryo nation. While HoYoverse has yet to confirm the identity of the mysterious character officially, the sighting has generated widespread discussion across social media and Reddit.
Bear-like NPC spotted in Snezhnaya trailer
The latest speculation originated from a Reddit post by user Knight_Steve_, who highlighted an unusual bear-like figure appearing briefly in the Snezhnaya trailer shown during the Version 6.7 Special Program livestream. According to the post, the creature may represent a new form of the Volkodlak Faes, a race that has gained increasing attention following the Nod-Krai storyline and the introduction of Linnea.
The NPC appears alongside other residents of Snezhnaya but stands out because of its large, anthropomorphic bear design. Although only visible for a short moment, the character immediately caught the attention of players looking for clues about the upcoming region.
The Reddit discussion quickly filled with comparisons to Zenless Zone Zero’s popular bear character, Bigger Ben. Many fans expressed hope that HoYoverse could eventually make similar beast-like characters playable in Genshin Impact.
Fans continue asking for more diverse character designs
The excitement surrounding the leak highlights a long-running request from the Genshin Impact community. While the game features numerous races and fantasy species, most playable characters remain overwhelmingly human in appearance.
Characters such as Yanfei, Tighnari, Arataki Itto, Gorou, Yae Miko, Kirara, Sucrose, Durin, Linnea, and Sigewinne all belong to different species or possess unique ancestry. However, many players feel their designs retain mostly human proportions, with only subtle animal traits like ears, horns, or tails distinguishing them.
Sigewinne is often cited as an example. Despite being a Melusine, her playable model resembles a small human far more than the non-playable Melusines found throughout Fontaine.
This latest leak has therefore reignited conversations about whether HoYoverse should experiment with more visually distinct playable races instead of relying on familiar character silhouettes.
HoYoverse has already shown it can create beast-folk
Interestingly, players point to HoYoverse’s other title, Zenless Zone Zero, as proof that the developer has the experience to design anthropomorphic characters. That game features several fully realized beast-folk characters, including Bigger Ben, demonstrating the studio’s ability to create playable characters with non-human body types.
Because of this, some fans believe introducing a humanoid bear or other beast-like characters in Genshin Impact would fit naturally within the fantasy world of Teyvat, especially as Snezhnaya introduces new cultures and races.
Still, there is currently no credible leak confirming that the newly spotted NPC will become playable. The character only appears briefly in promotional footage, and HoYoverse has made no official announcement regarding future playable beast-folk.
With Version 6.7 set to introduce Sandrone and the new Stellar-Conduct elemental reaction before Version 7.0 arrives, players will likely continue searching every trailer for additional clues about Snezhnaya’s expanding cast. Until official details emerge, the mysterious bear-like NPC remains one of the community’s most intriguing discoveries.
