HoYoverse has announced that Genshin Impact Version 7.0, titled Everwinter Without Mercy, will arrive on 12 August. The update opens the borders of Snezhnaya, the seventh nation of Teyvat, letting players experience the frozen country for themselves for the first time, a long-time coming given how the region and the Fatui have been involved in the overarching narrative from the beginning. It also brings a new Archon Quest, two new playable characters in Odette and Alyosha, an additional elemental reaction and a new third-person shooter mode.
Leading the character additions is Odette, a 5-Star Cryo Sword wielder and one of the first new playable characters to come out of the region. While she serves as a Fatui operative under La Signora, her training as a highly skilled assassin is far less known than her standing as a celebrated Snezhnayan ballerina. In battle, Odette converts Superconduct and Cryo Swirl reactions into Stellar-Conduct and Stellar Swirl respectively, and boosts the damage of all Stellar Glimmer reactions across the party. Her Elemental Skill sends out a dance double that deals continuous AoE Cryo damage and grants party members a Stellar Glimmer reaction damage bonus. Using the skill a second time draws Odette and her double into a brief duet, releasing a burst of AoE Cryo damage that counts as a Stellar Glimmer reaction, while her Elemental Burst unleashes multiple waves of AoE Cryo damage and raises her own Stellar Glimmer reaction damage.
She is joined by Alyosha, a Snezhnayan hunter who fights alongside his canine companion Tugarin. A 4-Star Electro Polearm user, he supplies Stellar-Conduct damage buffs to the party and restores HP to nearby allies on the battlefield. Players will be able to recruit him at no cost by progressing through the new Archon Quest. On the Event Wish front, the first phase sees Odette and Alyosha debut alongside a returning Arlecchino, while Flins and Ineffa will both return during the second phase.
As for the nation itself, Snezhnaya sits at Teyvat’s northern edge and endures relentless cold and blizzards, with its people relying on Kresnik energy to keep warm. Settlements are sparsely spread across the country and linked by an extensive rail network, and trains will carry players over the frozen terrain. One major stop is Snezhnograd, home to bustling streets and the headquarters of the Fatui, where the nation’s technological and military strength is on full display. Away from the city, players can venture into untamed icefields where ancient beasts roam, secluded villages watched over by Jack Frosts, and scattered snowbound settlements, gradually piecing together the stories and landscapes that have shaped the nation.
The new Archon Quest further explores the intricate relationships and tensions between different factions in the nation, while offering a closer look at a catastrophic blizzard, the energy crisis it has created for Snezhnaya, and the forces at work behind it. Up to 560 Primogems are on offer for completing the quest, and the Snezhnaya Adventure Journal will keep a record of progress while providing quick and convenient access to destinations and their rewards.
Upon arriving in the region, players will obtain the Eye of Graeae, a versatile tool designed to support open-world adventuring. Beyond shielding wearers from the harsh cold, the Goggles can be used to call trains and fabricate Prime Ice Constructs, which come into play for puzzle-solving and for interacting with other players. They also unlock a new third-person shooter (TPS) mode, featuring battles across diverse environments that demand tactical adaptability. Three new firearms will be introduced alongside the mode, together with various weapon attachments found throughout Snezhnaya that broaden the available options.
The elemental system is expanding as well, with Stellar Swirl arriving as the second Stellar Glimmer reaction after Stellar-Conduct. Combining Anemo and Cryo triggers the reaction, summoning a Stellar Vortex that deals both Anemo and Cryo damage. Setting it off repeatedly raises the Vortex’s level, which amplifies the effects of its eventual detonation. In open-world exploration, Stellar Swirl significantly boosts jump height, while Stellar-Conduct unlocks new interactions with objects. Interacting with Snezhnaya’s Statues of the Seven grants the Traveler Cryo elemental power, allowing them to trigger every Stellar Glimmer reaction while in a party.
Rounding out Version 7.0 is a set of limited-time events, which include racing trains across the ice and snow, target shooting competitions, Domain challenges, and a task helping the Jack Frost reach its destination. Completing the event challenges earns a variety of rewards, among them the chance to invite Diona for free. Meanwhile, a separate event built around summer spooky tales and adventure will kick off in Miliastra Wonderland, with rewards that include a new head accessory.
