Genshin Impact is finally heading to Snezhnaya, the seventh nation of Teyvat, and the Version 7.0 Special Program laid out exactly what is coming with it. Version 7.0, titled “Everwinter Without Mercy,” lands on August 12, 2026, and brings a new region, the Cryo Traveler, a third-person shooter mode, two new characters, and a fresh Stellar reaction.
Quick answer: Version 7.0 releases August 12, 2026. Odette (5-star Cryo sword) and the free 4-star Alyosha debut, Snezhnaya opens with a shooter mode inside “Shadow Realm” areas, and three livestream codes give 300 Primogems total.
Version 7.0 livestream codes (300 Primogems)
Three redemption codes went out during the Special Program, each worth 100 Primogems plus extra materials. They are time-limited and expire in early August (UTC-4), so redeem them promptly through the game or the official redemption page.
| Code | Rewards |
|---|---|
| Everwinter | 100 Primogems, 10 Mystic Enhancement Ore |
| OntoSnezhnaya | 100 Primogems, 5 Hero’s Wit |
| Odette0812 | 100 Primogems, 50,000 Mora |
To claim them, sign in and enter each code on the official gift page. You will see the rewards land in your in-game mail once a code is accepted.
New characters and banner schedule
Two Snezhnayan characters join the roster. Odette is a 5-star Cryo sword user, a celebrated ballet dancer who also serves the Fatui. Her kit buffs the new Stellar Glimmer reactions and boosts their damage, and she is the only new 5-star this version. Alyosha is a 4-star Electro polearm character who acts as an off-field healer and buffer for Stellar-Conduct reactions. You can get Alyosha for free by playing through part of the Archon Quest, “Everwinter Without Mercy.”
The banners split across two phases, with reruns filling out the lineup.
| Phase | Dates | Featured characters |
|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 | Aug 12 – Sep 1, 2026 | Odette (new), Arlecchino (rerun), Alyosha (4-star rate-up) |
| Phase 2 | Sep 1 – Sep 22, 2026 | Flins, Ineffa (reruns) |
Snezhnaya, the Cryo Traveler, and the cold system
Snezhnaya is a frozen nation where high winds can knock you back and the cold can freeze you outright. It uses a Sheer Cold system similar to Dragonspine, so keep Pyro characters handy. To help with exploration, you pick up a gadget called the Eye of Graeae that keeps you warm and, near a railway, summons Snezhnaya’s trains. Those trains double as a mobile base, complete with a Firearm Workbench, a Crafting Table, and a communicator for Daily Commissions.
The Traveler unlocks their final element, Cryo, the moment they resonate with the Tsaritsa’s Statue of the Seven, so there is no long quest gate this time. The Cryo Traveler also carries a unique sword, the Exaiphanes Blade, which grows stronger each time you unlock a Statue of the Seven across the region.
Returning after a long break is straightforward. As long as you have finished the Mondstadt quest “Song of the Dragon and Freedom,” you can jump straight into the new Archon Quests.
Stellar Swirl reaction
Version 7.0 adds Stellar Swirl to the Stellar Glimmer family. When Anemo meets Cryo through a character carrying a Stellar Linchpin, it forms a Stellar Vortex that deals Anemo damage, then Cryo damage after it explodes. The vortex can be upgraded on the field by triggering more Stellar Swirls. Having the Cryo Traveler in your party is one way to set off Stellar Swirl and the wider Stellar Glimmer reactions.
Third-person shooter mode in the Shadow Realm
The long-teased gun gameplay is real. Inside Snezhnaya’s Shadow Realm areas, the Traveler enters a third-person shooter perspective and wields firearms much like the Fatui always have. It is not just run-and-gun. You can duck behind cover, vault obstacles, and slide to reposition, and you can shape the fight with the environment, such as using a grenade launcher to break ice and drop enemies.
Elemental reactions carry over based on your weapon setup. There are three weapon variants at launch: a Cryo rifle for precision, an Electro rifle with an auto-lock feature, and a triple-element grenade launcher covering Pyro, Hydro, and Cryo. Each firearm accepts accessories so you can tune it. If shooters are not your strength, there are multiple aim-assist options, and higher-difficulty stages exist for players who want a real test. The Traveler also gets a dedicated “Night Hunt In Snow” outfit for use inside the Shadow Realm. Miliastra Wonderland is set to support the shooter mode later on.
New weapons and artifacts
Odette’s signature 5-star sword, the Whitelake Frostfeather, headlines the weapon banner. The Exaiphanes Blade is a free personal sword for the Traveler, obtained through the Chapter 7 Act 1 and Act 2 Archon Quests. Beyond those, there are five craftable weapons and five Battle Pass weapons.
| Craftable weapons | Battle Pass weapons |
|---|---|
| Emberwell (Sword) | Heretic’s Molten Blade (Sword) |
| Covenant of Frost and Snow (Bow) | Jade Vista (Bow) |
| Blade of Atonement (Claymore) | Forged by the Golden Melody (Claymore) |
| Echoes of the Heart (Catalyst) | Clash of Kings (Catalyst) |
| Song of the Vigil (Polearm) | Frostbreath (Polearm) |
Two new artifact sets, Heart of the Furnace and Scarlet Proof, arrive with the update and are expected to have their own farmable domains in Snezhnaya.
Quests, bosses, and events
The Archon Quest line splits into “Everwinter Without Mercy” (Chapter 7, Act 1) and “Wraith’s Nocturne” (Chapter 7, Act 2), threading the storm crisis, the Ruler of Death Ronova, and the Tsaritsa herself. New Meeting Point quests for Odette, Alyosha, and Vodyanista add exploration progress and rewards, alongside a slate of world quests, puzzles, and combat challenges.
Two new world bosses, the Immortal Construct and the Chimeric Winged Lion, join the region. On the event side, the Great Expeditionist Challenge hands out a free Diona, and Mutual Aid in Bloom: Into the Frostlands plus Trial of the Bastion round out the activities.
The To Temper Thyself and Journey Far Constellation selector expands with nine Fontaine characters: Lyney, Wriothesley, Navia, Xianyun, Chiori, Sigewinne, Clorinde, Emilie, and Yumemizuki Mizuki. As before, you can only claim a Constellation for a character you already own at least one copy of.
Quality-of-life changes
A few systems get cleaned up alongside the new region. The Snezhnaya Adventure Journal logs your quests and lets you jump to relevant locations or claim rewards directly. The Handbook now surfaces the most recent Artifact Domain at the top, the number of Map Pins goes up, and Stygian Onslaught starts rewarding new weapon skins for clearing its challenges.
As for the Tsaritsa, she is not playable yet. Based on how earlier nations rolled out, an Archon typically arrives a few patches into their region, so expect her later in the 7.x cycle rather than at launch.
