Genshin Impact Leaves PS4 Behind, Which Is Painful but Probably Necessary

Genshin Impact is moving further into its PS5 era, with HoYoverse outlining major visual improvements as the long-awaited Snezhnaya region heads for release on 12 August. The big emotional twist is that PS4 support is effectively over, meaning last-generation players are being left at the station while the snow train heads north.

For gamers, this is one of those uncomfortable but understandable live-service moments. Genshin is now an old game by service-game standards, and if it keeps supporting every legacy platform forever, it risks becoming technically frozen. Dropping PS4 lets HoYoverse push character visuals, cinematic integration, and world design harder, especially as Snezhnaya is being positioned as a major narrative milestone. The downside is obvious: players who built years of progress on older hardware now need a platform upgrade or another way to play. This is the hidden cost of live-service longevity.