HoYoverse held its Genshin Impact Version 7.0 Special Program, revealing the highly anticipated Snezhnaya region, characters, mechanics, and more.
Snezhnaya is home to the Fatui, which were first introduced as antagonists in Genshin Impact from the beginning six years ago. The eternally snowing land is locked in a battle against fate and the Heavenly Principals, and the people of Snezhnaya are on the side of Teyvat and their Tsaritsa.
The Tsaritsa seeks to protect Snezhnaya and prevent it from becoming another disaster like Khaenri’ah or Hyporborea. In fact, the Special Program actually dropped the news that all the people of Khaenri’ah are descendants of the Tsaritsa, which contributes to her distaste for the Fates and the Heavenly Principles.
In Version 7.0, the snowstorm in Snezhnaya is getting worse and worse while the energy reserves are dwindling quickly. The Tsaritsa is away as she fights against the monster causing the rising intensity of the snowstorm, and society is at odds with itself, and even the Fatui are fighting each other.
Elemental Reactions in Snezhnaya look differently than in the rest of Teyvat, as the first leader of the nation was actually a Third Descender who brought new powers to the area. This was first introduced in Version Luna 8 with Sandrone and Stellar-Conduct, and Stellar Swirl (Cryo and Anemo) will be introduced in Version 7.0. All of these new reactions are called Stellar Glimmer.
When Stellar-Conduct is triggered, a Polestar Field is created that boosts Stellar-Conduct damage, Cryo damage, and Electro damage, while also shredding enemies’ physical resistance. For Stellar Swirl teams, a Stellar Vortex will be created that explodes after a brief period of time. If multiple Stellar Swirl reactions are triggered before it explodes, the Vortex will level up and deal even more damage.
Outside of battle, these reactions can help players as they explore Snezhnaya. For example, Stellar Swirl will boost the Traveler’s jump.
Players will be able to unlock Cryo abilities for the Traveler in Version 7.0, along with a new unique weapon that also levels up as more Statues of Seven are unlocked in Snezhnaya. The main story will dive into the origins of this weapon.
The first new characters in Genshin Impact Version 7.0 include Odette and Alyosha.
Odette is a five-star Cryo sword user who’s based on the Black Swan and the White Swan in Swan Lake. She’s part of the Fatui and was a close subordinate of Signora. By having her in the party, Superconduct and Swirl reactions are converted to Stellar-Conduct and Stellar Swirl, and she also boosts all Stellar Glimmer damage.
In combat, she summons her Solo Dance Double, which deals Stellar Glimmer damage over time. She can also team up with her reflection for a special follow-up attack that deals Stellar Glimmer damage. Her Elemental Burst deals several instances of damage.
Alyosha is a four-star Cryo polearm user. His kit revolves around providing off-field Electro damage and healing, and he also provides Stellar-Conduct and attack buffs when the player is inside a Polestar Field.
Players will be able to invite Alyosha to their team while progressing through the main story missions in Snezhnaya.
In Snezhnaya, there’s an even more dedicated idea of presenting the everyday lives of characters, which was first discussed and focused on with the introduction of Nod-Krai. Many new and familiar faces will be around, doing things like attending the theatre. Plus, new Meeting Points will be available for Odette, where players can help her plan her rigorous Fatui and ballet schedule. Players will be able to unlock different endings to her week depending on how they plan her schedule.
Alyosha’s Meeting Point takes players on an investigation, which rewards players with a special access card to a surprise place. There’s also a Meeting Point for Vodyanitsa, the theatre’s principal soprano, where players will help with her vocal training.
By progressing the Meeting Points, a special quest is unlocked at an abandoned station to get it running again.
The first half of Genshin Impact Version 7.0 will feature Odette and Arlecchino, as well as Alyosha. The second half will feature Flins and Ineffa. New forgeable weapons will also be added to the game in Snezhnaya, as well as new battle pass weapons and artifacts.
In Snezhnaya, the Traveler will unlock a new combat outfit for the Shadow Realm that gives them a gun. This introduces third-person shooting action to Genshin Impact, which matches what many of the Fatui use. The special Shadow Realm breaks the rules of Teyvat, and players will be able to experience the new gameplay feature in these areas.
Alongside shooting, players will be able to use a variety of movement abilities like hiding behind cover, vaulting over objects, and sliding.
When shooting, there are several options that players can toggle, including aim assist, Auto Snapping (both while aiming and while firing), a Crosshair slowdown over targets, and an automatic switch to Aiming Mode when firing. These will help players adjust gameplay to their own skill levels.
Travelers will be able to choose between three different firearms that have different Elements attached to them. This will let them target their gameplay to each situation and their playstyle. There are also various attachments that players can unlock to enhance each weapon. There are plans in the future to introduce more weapons and attachments.
When traveling through Snezhnaya’s coldest regions, players will use energy that’s been stored in their new Eye of Graeae to keep themselves warm. When the energy runs out, players will begin getting cold. This gadget can also alter the environment, letting players place different gadgets and structures through Snezhnaya with Prime Ice. Players can even leave signs for other Travelers to see.
Stellar Glimmer reactions can also alter these structures and builds in other creative ways, giving players quite a bit to experiment with.
There are several events coming in Genshin Impact Version 7.0, including a tournament from the Adventurer’s Guild and a series of drills in the Shadow Realm. There will also be new additions to Genius Invokation TCG.
As for optimizations, Version 7.0 will introduce a Snezhnaya Adventure Journal that will let players see the story quests from a new point of view. It also lets players jump to the locations they need to go to and claim rewards easily.
The Adventure Handbook will also display artifact domains differently to make it easier to find what you need. Additionally, players will be able to place more map pins, which makes sense as the map is expanding with the new region. Plus, players can unlock both new and old weapon skins by completing Dire stages in Stygian Onslaught.
The To Temper Thyself and Journey Far system is being updated to include the following characters: Lyney, Wriothsley, Navia, Xianyun, Chiori, Sigewinne, Clorinde, Emilie, and Yumemizuki Mizuki.
An update about the music for Snezhnaya was also revealed, with a glimpse into some of the music and the artists behind it. A live performance from the Symphony was also part of the Genshin Impact Version 7.0 Special Program.
Of course, Miliastra Wonderland is also getting an update with Genshin Impact Version 7.0. This version, the theme will be Whimsical Spectacle, a circus/jester theme with magic tricks and cards. There will also be a special event in Miliastra Wonderland, unlocking a hat and other rewards for the game mode.
Genshin Impact Version 7.0 will launch on August 12, 2026, on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and mobile devices (iOS and Android).
As always, there are a few codes players can redeem in Genshin Impact until August 3, 2026, at 12 am (UTC -4):
- Everwinter: 100x Primogems, 10x Mystic Enhancement Ore
- OntoSnezhnaya: 100x Primogems, 5x Traveler’s Guide
- Odette0812: 100x Primogems, 50,000x Mora
Players can watch the entire Genshin Impact Version 7.0 Special Program below, which includes quite a bit of additional details, such as the new train system and home base of sorts and a heartfelt thank you from developers as Genshin Impact heads to the long-awaited region.
