Genshin Impact's Version 7.0 update has settled into its second act. After opening with the Odette and Arlecchino banner from August 12 to September 1, the game moved into Phase 2 on September 1, running through September 22, 2026, headlined by a rerun of Flins alongside his signature Electro polearm, Bloodsoaked Ruins, and a return appearance from Ineffa.
The bigger story, though, is the region Version 7.0 finally opened: Snezhnaya, the seventh and last of Teyvat's major nations and long-teased home of the Fatui and the Cryo Archon.
Snezhnaya, five years in the making
Snezhnaya's arrival closes out a region players have been anticipating since the game's earliest lore drops. Version 7.0 introduces a cluster of new sub-areas — Volkodlak Tundra, White Birch Snowgrave, Everfrozen Earth, Flamefeather Valley, and Fellfrost Peak — built around the frigid, Russian- and Eastern-European-inspired aesthetic the region has been associated with in leaks for years.
Early access impressions have been positive on the exploration and narrative front in particular, with reviewers highlighting how densely packed the region is with lore payoffs for characters who'd previously only been mentioned in passing. For a live-service game five-plus years into its run, a positive reception on story density matters: it's the clearest signal that the writing team can still deliver a payoff big enough to justify the wait.
Mechanically, the update isn't just a new map. The Traveler unlocks a new Shadow Realm combat outfit in Snezhnaya that introduces a gun and third-person shooting mechanics — a first for Genshin's combat system, and one that mirrors how the Fatui themselves fight in-region rather than being a purely cosmetic addition.
What's in Phase 2
- Flins (rerun) — Electro polearm DPS/support, running with his signature weapon Bloodsoaked Ruins.
- Ineffa (rerun) — returning alongside Flins for players who missed her original run or need a second copy of her kit.
- Continued access to Snezhnaya's new commissions, expeditions, and exploration content introduced with the 7.0 launch.
For players who prioritized Odette or Arlecchino in Phase 1, this second phase is squarely a catch-up window rather than a must-pull moment, unless Flins or Ineffa fill a specific team gap.
Version 7.1 already in view
Datamined material and community tracking point to Version 7.1 beginning around September 23, with Vesna and Vodyanitsa expected as the update's new banner characters, alongside Zibai and Linnea reruns. As usual, HoYoverse hasn't confirmed specifics this far out, so those names should be treated as directional rather than locked in until an official livestream drops.
The bottom line
Version 7.0 represents a genuine milestone for Genshin Impact — closing out the last major unrevealed nation and adding a new combat mechanic rather than just another biome reskin. With Phase 2 banners live through September 22 and Version 7.1 teased for right after, the coming weeks are less about a single headline drop and more about how HoYoverse paces content in a region players have waited years to see.
