Genshin Impact Version 7.0 finally takes the Traveler to Snezhnaya, the frozen home of the Tsaritsa and the Fatui, and the last of the seven nations on the Teyvat map. It brings a new region to explore, a fresh Cryo-focused combat system, and a wave of characters players have been waiting on since the game launched. Here is where the release timing stands and what to expect when the update goes live.
Quick answer: Version 7.0 launches on August 12, 2026 for the Europe, Asia, and TW/HK/MO servers, and on August 11, 2026 for North America servers due to the time zone difference. HoYoverse confirmed the date through the redemption code Snezhnaya20260812.
Release time: August 12, 2026 at 04:00 UTC (server update)
Genshin Impact 7.0 release date and end date by server
Status: Confirmed. HoYoverse locked in the date during the “To Snezhnaya and the Future” Special Program on April 24, 2026. The date was embedded in the redemption code Snezhnaya20260812, which also handed out 200 Primogems. Notably, Version 6.8 is being skipped entirely, so the game jumps straight from 6.7 to 7.0.
| Server | Release Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|
| North America (NA) | August 11, 2026 | September 22, 2026 |
| Europe (EU) | August 12, 2026 | September 23, 2026 |
| Asia | August 12, 2026 | September 23, 2026 |
| TW, HK, MO | August 12, 2026 | September 23, 2026 |
The 7.0 Special Program livestream is expected to air in late July or early August, roughly 10 to 14 days before the update goes live. A pre-load will open a couple of days before launch so you can install most of the new content ahead of time.
7.0 banner schedule and phases
Version 7.0 runs two banner phases across its roughly six-week span. Two new characters headline the update, with Phase 2 beginning in early September. Rerun lineups have not been confirmed.
| Phase | Window | Featured character |
|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 | Aug 12 – Sep 2, 2026 | Odette (5-star) |
| Phase 1 (free) | From launch | Alyosha (4-star) |
| Phase 2 | Around Sep 2 – Sep 23, 2026 | Possible rerun (unconfirmed) |
Alyosha is expected to be handed out for free by progressing through the Archon Quest, matching HoYoverse’s pattern of giving a free 4-star at the start of each new region. Early leaks pointed to Vodyanitsa and Pantalone filling these slots, but the current expectation is that Odette leads Phase 1 while Vodyanitsa shifts to a later version.
New playable characters in 7.0
Three new playable units are expected at launch: Odette, Alyosha, and the Cryo Traveler. The wider Snezhnaya cast, revealed in the “Sudden Snow” trailer, will roll out across later versions.
Odette
Odette is expected to be a 5-star Cryo character who uses a Sword. She is described as a dancer and assassin who acts as a universal support for the new Stellar Reactions, with buffs that include resistance shred, elemental damage bonus, and Elemental Mastery. Her kit lets her build up buffs and pass them to another character after switching out.
Alyosha
Alyosha is expected to be a 4-star Electro unit who fills the Stellar-Conduct support role, working under Sandrone and other Snezhnaya damage dealers. He is described as a rifleman who summons wolves through his Elemental Burst, shown fighting alongside the Traveler in the Snezhnaya teaser. Chinese leakers also describe him as a shielder.
Cryo Traveler
The Cryo Traveler arrives with 7.0, letting the protagonist resonate with the Cryo element for the first time and complete the full set of Traveler elements. Leaks describe this form as a buffer that converts reactions into Stellar Reactions, with a shield unlocked through constellations.
Stellar Reactions, the new combat system
Every major region has introduced its own combat mechanic. Snezhnaya’s addition is Stellar Reactions, a set of enhanced Cryo-centric elemental interactions built to make Superconduct and related reactions worth building around.
| Reaction | Elements | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Stellar-Conduct | Cryo + Electro | Creates a persistent field. Qualifying characters keep Stellar Superconduct damage, while other Cryo and Electro units inside gain a 38% Elemental DMG Bonus. |
| Stellar-Swirl | Cryo + Anemo | Enhanced Cryo Swirl with new multipliers, opening options for Anemo units. |
| Cryo + Dendro (unnamed) | Cryo + Dendro | Likely tied to the “Rimegrass” mechanic. Recent leaks suggest it may not carry the “Stellar” label. |
The strongest evidence for the system came from 6.6 datamining, where Diona’s C6 was quietly updated to mention “increases Stellar-Conduct, Superconduct, and Cryo Swirl DMG by 20%,” then removed before release. Sandrone, who arrives in Version 6.7 on July 1, is built entirely around Stellar-Conduct and requires an off-field Electro applier to function.
New weapons and artifacts
Version 7.0 adds a set of Snezhnaya craftable weapons, a new Battle Pass weapon series, and two 5-star signature weapons. It also introduces two artifact sets tuned around the new reactions.
| Weapon | Rarity / Type | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Frostsnow Oath | 4-star Bow | Craftable in Snezhnaya |
| Echoes of a Resolute Heart | 4-star Catalyst | Craftable in Snezhnaya |
| Ballad of the Sentinel | 4-star Polearm | Craftable in Snezhnaya |
| Blade of Redemption | 4-star Claymore | Craftable in Snezhnaya |
| Source of Kindling | 4-star Sword | Craftable in Snezhnaya |
| White Lake Winterfeather | 5-star Sword | Odette’s signature (banner) |
| Starforged Sword | 5-star Sword | Traveler signature |
The two new artifact sets cover a Stellar Conduct support role and a Stellar Swirl DPS role. The support set grants team-wide Stellar-Conduct and Stellar-Swirl damage bonuses when triggered, and works even while the wearer is off-field. The DPS set boosts CRIT Rate and Stellar-Swirl damage after the wearer triggers Stellar-Swirl.
The Snezhnaya map and region
Snezhnaya sits in the north of the Teyvat map, northwest of Nod-Krai and filling the space between Nod-Krai, Fontaine, and Mondstadt. The initial 7.0 map is larger than Sumeru’s forest region and is expected to expand further in later versions.
The capital, Snezhnograd, holds Kresnik’s Torch, a giant heating core that keeps the nation from freezing over. Other confirmed locations include the port towns of Morepesok and Belovodye, both pointing to a coastal, trade-heavy culture. Zapolyarny Palace, the Tsaritsa’s residence, sits north of the capital.
Due to the cold, Snezhnaya uses a freezing mechanic similar to Dragonspine, likely a Sheer Cold system. A railway and train network runs across the region as a main mode of transport, with theatrical performances staged inside the carriages and outdoor camping between stops.
Snezhnaya’s regional collectibles are Cryoculus, which are handed to the local Statue of the Seven. A lush green area appears on the northwest side of the map with a frozen port town to its east, and a giant structure resembling the Tsar’s Grave sits in the northeast. Childe’s hometown is also rumored to be part of the 7.0 map.
New enemies and bosses
Two standout enemies have appeared in the Snezhnaya trailers: a rabbit-like creature with a red hood and blade leg-stands, and a large tree-like monster with crystals growing on its body. New Fatui enemies have also been spotted.
The Tsaritsa and the story ahead
Anastasya Feodorovna Snezhnaya, the Cryo Archon known as the Tsaritsa, is confirmed to be a playable character but is not expected in 7.0 itself. Current expectations place her in a later version, with 7.3 the most commonly cited, after the main Archon Quest reaches its climax.
Version 7.0 is set to answer the long-standing question of why the Archons handed over their Gnoses, with the Fatui already holding six of seven. The Traveler faces the Cryo Archon at last while Snezhnaya deals with a crisis of its own. Given that placement, 7.0 works as a Primogem-saving window if the Tsaritsa is your main target, so plan your pulls around Odette and the Cryo Traveler first, then stack for the Archon banner when it opens.
