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Genshin Impact
Genshin Impact is approaching its sixth anniversary. The Ver.7.0 update will improve visual quality for new characters and background textures while keeping most system requirements unchanged, and the Luna VIII update is set for July 1, 2026, adding new outfits and the playable character Sandrone.
Synthesized from 8
Yomimono stories · updated
3d ago
HoYoverse continues to support Genshin Impact with regular content updates and graphical improvements as the game nears its sixth anniversary. The Ver.7.0 update, announced on July 9, 2026, will deliver improved visual quality for new characters and background textures while keeping the majority of required specifications for PC, iOS, and console unchanged. For Android devices, minimum and recommended specs stay the same, though some devices with specific GPU architectures may experience unstable performance. The update follows the end of PS4 support in April 2026 and is expected to launch later this year, with details on the seventh nation Snezhnaya also being revealed.
Before Ver.7.0, the Luna VIII update, titled "Return to Summer! Shadows? Spirit Festival!," is set for release on July 1, 2026. It introduces the Fatui Harbinger Sandrone as a playable 5-star Cryo character, alongside a rerun for Citlali. New outfits for Citlali and Charlotte were announced: Citlali's "Star and Smoke Night Talk" will be sold in the in-game shop, while Charlotte's "Harlock Variation" will be a free reward from the new "Spirit Shadow Festival" event, where players can also obtain the 4-star character Charlotte herself. The update also adds a spaceship for aerial exploration across Teyvat and a floor display function for maps. A preview program aired on June 18, 2026, featuring voice actors Mariko Honda (Sandrone) and Lynn (Columbina), and was streamed on the official Genshin Impact YouTube channel and official X account.
Outside of game updates, Genshin Impact maintained strong YouTube engagement, topping SpiceSmart's May 2026 mobile game commentary YouTuber ranking for the second consecutive month, driven by version updates and early access content. The game also ran a limited collaboration with Kentucky Fried Chicken from June 10 to June 30, 2026, offering limited-design dinner boxes featuring Alhaitham and Kaveh, with in-game items and a lottery for tapestries and autographed color boards. Meanwhile, merchandise continues: Myethos opened pre-orders for a chibi figure of Durin in her Flower Language and Travel Diary Ver., priced at 8,210 yen, scheduled for release in April 2027, and Good Smile Company is re-releasing the Nendoroid figure of Venti, with pre-orders open and a release scheduled for January 31, 2027.
Key facts
- Ver.7.0 graphics improvement
- Ver.7.0 will improve visual quality for new characters and background textures while keeping most system requirements unchanged. ↗
- PS4 support ended
- PS4 support ended in April 2026. ↗
- Luna VIII update release date
- Luna VIII update releases on July 1, 2026. ↗
- New playable character Sandrone
- Sandrone, a Fatui Harbinger, becomes a playable 5-star Cryo character in Luna VIII. ↗
- Citlali outfit monetized, Charlotte outfit free
- Citlali's outfit is sold in the in-game shop; Charlotte's outfit is a free event reward. ↗
- Preview program aired June 18, 2026
- The Luna VIII Preview Program aired on June 18, 2026, with voice actors Mariko Honda and Lynn. ↗
- KFC collaboration period
- KFC collaboration ran from June 10 to June 30, 2026, with Alhaitham and Kaveh dinner boxes. ↗
- Top YouTuber mobile game ranking
- Genshin Impact ranked first in SpiceSmart's May 2026 mobile game commentary YouTuber ranking for the second consecutive month. ↗
- Durin chibi figure pre-order
- Myethos opened pre-orders for a Durin chibi figure at 8,210 yen, release in April 2027. ↗
- Venti Nendoroid re-release
- Good Smile Company re-releases the Venti Nendoroid, pre-orders open, release January 31, 2027. ↗
Timeline
Synthesized by Yomimono from the cited Yomimono stories below, each itself
sourced, then editorially reviewed. Every
fact links the story it came from.
Facts
- Release
- game · July 1, 2026 · global · 2026-06-18
- Release
- game · January 31, 2027 · Japan · 2026-06-10
- Release
- game · June 10 to June 30, 2026 · global · 2026-06-03
- Announced
- new outfits for Citlali and Charlotte in the Luna VIII update · 2026-06-18
- Announced
- Genshin Impact Luna VIII Preview Program (June 18 at 21:00 JST) · 2026-06-16
- Noted
- Genshin Impact Tops May YouTuber Mobile Game Ranking for Second Month · 2026-06-05
Connections
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CC BY 4.0.
Claim activity
When a claim about Genshin Impact was confirmed, debunked, or disputed against
open-web sources. The record stays even after a claim drops off the facts list.
- Confirmed HoYoverse produces Genshin Impact Jun 19 · source
All coverage
3d ago
HoYoverse announced on July 9 that Genshin Impact's Ver.7.0 update will deliver improved visual quality for new characters and background textures. The company stated that the majority of required specifications for PC, iOS, and console will remain unchanged. For Android devices, the minimum and recommended specs stay the same, but some devices with specific GPU architectures may experience unstable performance. The update follows the end of PS4 support in April 2026. Genshin Impact is approaching its sixth anniversary, and HoYoverse emphasized a continued focus on optimizing device performance alongside graphical enhancements. The Ver.7.0 update is expected to launch later this year, with details on the seventh nation Snezhnaya also being revealed.
Jul 1
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney posted on July 1 that Steam's 30% base commission deters major free-to-play titles like Genshin Impact from launching there. He argued lower fees would attract those companies and increase Steam's revenue. Critics pointed to Epic's own layoffs and noted that many such games already exist on Steam.
Jun 18
HoYoverse announced new outfits for Citlali and Charlotte in the Luna VIII update of Genshin Impact, set for release on July 1, 2026. Citlali's outfit, "Star and Smoke Night Talk," shows her in casual pajamas, while Charlotte's outfit, "Harlock Variation," is a detective-style look. Citlali's outfit will be sold in the in-game shop, and Charlotte's outfit will be a free reward from the new "Spirit Shadow Festival" event, where players can also obtain the 4-star character Charlotte herself. The Luna VIII update, titled "Return to Summer! Shadows? Spirit Festival!," also introduces the Fatui Harbinger Sandrone as a playable 5-star Cryo character, alongside a rerun for Citlali. New gameplay features include a spaceship for aerial exploration across Teyvat and a floor display function for maps. The update will be available on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, iOS, and Android.
Jun 16
HoYoverse announced on June 16 that it will stream the "Genshin Impact Luna VIII Preview Program" on June 18 at 21:00 JST. The program will feature voice actors Mariko Honda, who voices Sandrone, and Lynn, who voices Columbina, as guests. The announcement thumbnail shows Sandrone and Columbina against a background that appears to be Fontaine, and also previews new costumes for the characters Charlotte and Citlali. The broadcast will air on Thursday, a departure from the usual Friday schedule for these preview programs. The Luna VIII update is the next major version before a significant update, and past previews before major updates have introduced limited-time maps such as the Golden Apple Archipelago and Veluriyam Mirage, as well as new costumes. The program will be streamed on the official Genshin Impact YouTube channel and official X account. Genshin Impact is available on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, iOS, and Android as a free-to-play title with in-app purchases.
Jun 12
Myethos has opened pre-orders for a chibi figure of Genshin Impact's Durin in her Flower Language and Travel Diary Ver. The figure, priced at 8,210 yen at AmiAmi, stands 125mm tall and includes a dedicated base and a bonus art board. It is scheduled for release in April 2027.
Jun 10
Good Smile Company is re-releasing the Nendoroid figure of Genshin Impact's bard Venti. The 100mm plastic painted movable figure includes three face parts, the lyre Fleur de Lys, and Skyward Wings. Pre-orders are open on Amazon Japan at 7,181 yen, with a release scheduled for January 31, 2027.
Jun 5
SpiceSmart's May 2026 mobile game commentary YouTuber ranking shows Genshin Impact at first place for the second consecutive month, driven by version updates and early access content. Nine of the top ten titles from April also appear in May, indicating stability. Dragon Quest Smash Glow enters the top 20, and Wuthering Waves returns to the chart.
Jun 3
Kentucky Fried Chicken and Genshin Impact are holding a limited collaboration from June 10 to June 30, 2026. Pre-orders for two limited-design dinner boxes featuring Alhaitham and Kaveh began June 3. Each pack includes in-game items, and a lottery offers tapestries and autographed color boards from the characters' voice actors.