Genshin Impact 7.0 and Snezhnaya: every major update explained

Version 7.0 “Everwinter Without Mercy” went live on August 12, 2026, after the standard maintenance window. The official patch notes allocated 300 Primogems as maintenance compensation and another 300 for issue fixes for accounts meeting the stated Adventure Rank requirement.

This is not a small Nod-Krai epilogue but the entrance to Snezhnaya proper. The update opens Chapter VII, Act I “Everwinter Without Mercy” and Act II “Wraith’s Nocturne.” You can start the chapter at AR18 after completing the Mondstadt Prologue, though the game recommends the preceding Luna story and “Sunny Summer Fontinalia” for full context.

Snezhnaya connects Snezhnograd and remote settlements through an extensive railway. The Eye of Graeae protects you from extreme cold, summons trains, and creates Prime Ice Constructs used in puzzles and interactions with other players. Selected services, including crafting and handling daily tasks, are also available aboard the train.

The region adds Meeting Points at Tidesong Cavern, Huntsman’s Cabin, and The Korolevskiy Theater, upgraded with Cryo Sigils. A separate activity branch is the Shadow Realm, featuring third-person shooting segments, weapon components, Cycle Training, and Edge of Survival.

Stellar Swirl is an Anemo + Cryo reaction available under specific conditions. It creates a Stellar Vortex that deals area Cryo damage and grows with repeated triggers, raising the vortex level, radius, and final detonation damage. Its reaction damage can CRIT, and after the explosion it briefly improves jump height while exploring.

Stellar-Conduct from Luna VIII remains important for Cryo + Electro combinations. After resonating with a Snezhnaya Statue of the Seven, Traveler receives Cryo and—while in the party—can enable every Stellar Reaction. Traveler also receives the quest 5-star sword Exaiphanes Blade, strengthened through regional progress.

Odette is a 5-star Cryo Sword character designed as a support and sub-DPS for Stellar-Conduct and Stellar Swirl. Her Skill deals off-field Cryo damage and buffs the party’s Stellar Reaction DMG. Alyosha is a 4-star Electro Polearm character who supports Stellar-Conduct, applies Electro, and heals the active character.

You can invite Alyosha without spending wishes by progressing through “Everwinter Without Mercy”; the reward remains attached to the quest after the event page closes. Phase I wishes, running until September 1, 2026, server time, feature Odette and a returning Arlecchino, with boosted rates for Alyosha, Sucrose, and Lynette.

The new Archon Quest offers up to 560 Primogems, while time-limited Snezhnaya exploration objectives add 400. Compensation, chests, the Adventure Journal, Meeting Points, and events add more. We do not present one “guaranteed” wish total because community primocounts depend on activity, Welkin, Abyss, and later events.

The first event, “Mutual Aid in Bloom,” combines photo objectives, Snowballs A-Rollin’, collecting Lady Katheryne statue pieces, and player exchanges. The official overview also previews train races, shooting competitions, domains, and escorting frost spirits, with an opportunity to invite Diona in one event. Special Program codes expire quickly and are not listed here as active.

The map pin cap rises from 300 to 350, shared inventory from 2,300 to 2,600, and artifact storage from 2,400 to 2,700. Selected new quest goals support direct teleportation, domains are sorted more usefully, and the Multi-Layered Map hides unexplored layers more carefully. Long-Term Encounter Points reset with the major version—this is planned behavior, not an account bug.

HoYoverse did not raise the general PC and console thresholds, but 7.0 improves textures, weather, and models. On weaker systems, test Snezhnograd and a blizzard first, then lower effects, shadows, and render resolution. The official PC minimum still includes 64-bit Windows 10, 8 GB RAM, and GTX 1050/Iris Xe-class graphics; 16 GB RAM and a GTX 1060 6 GB or better are recommended.