Genshin Impact, the Breath of the Wild-inspired RPG, is looking for players to test its latest closed beta

Genshin Impact is the controversial open-world RPG that drew the ire of some gamers last year for its abundant similarities to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Earlier this week, the announcement came that a Switch version is on the way, but I'm primarily interested in how this ambitious title works on iOS and Android.

Thankfully, a select few will now be able to get some hands-on time with it by signing up for the game's latest closed beta. It's set to showcase the Liyue Harbor area and will "allow players an opportunity to understand the legend of the Geo Archon and unveil the secrets of this gorgeous city". The beta will kick off at some point in Q1 2020.

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The original closed beta featured Mondstadt, the "City of Wind". New characters and adventures await in Liyue Harbor, so it's probably worth getting involved even if you participated the first time around.

For those not in the know, Genshin Impact is an open-world RPG set in the fantasy realm of Teyvat. It's a story-focused title with an elemental combo-based combat system and plenty of impressive locales to explore.

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As I say, it originally made news for its clear cribbing of ideas from Nintendo's Breath of the Wild, including the stamina meter, cooking mechanics, enemy designs, and more. That said, the overall presentation is quite different, with Genshin Impact going for a more anime-style look that sets it apart just enough from its most obvious inspiration.

If you'd like to get involved in the closed beta, you can sign up now over on the game's official site. It looks like they're taking PC, iOS, and Android-based applicants at the moment. No release date for the full game has yet been revealed, though it was originally set to launch this year.