Genshin Impact 7.2 Release Date: Hour of Ruin Lands November 4 With Mitya, Valeriy and Eastern Snezhnaya

Genshin Impact Version 7.2 "Hour of Ruin" arrives November 4 with Mitya, Valeriy, a new slice of Snezhnaya and an Archon Quest that brings all seven nations together.

HoYoverse has pulled back the curtain on Genshin Impact's next update. Version 7.2, titled "Hour of Ruin," launches on November 4, 2026, and it looks like one of the biggest story beats the game has had in a long time: the Tsaritsa calls the whole of Teyvat to Snezhnaya, a new chunk of the frozen nation opens up in the east, and two new Electro characters join the roster. The Version 7.2 Special Program aired on October 23, and it came with the usual round of free Primogem codes.

Here is everything that was announced, and what it means if you're planning your pulls.

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Release date and platforms

Version 7.2 goes live on Wednesday, November 4. Exact maintenance times vary by server and are posted by HoYoverse closer to launch, so keep an eye on the official channels. As always, the update hits every version of the game at once: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC (both the HoYoverse launcher and the Epic Games Store), iOS and Android, with cross-progression intact.

The story: all seven nations in Snezhnaya

The new Archon Quest builds on the threat of the Nails of Retribution. As they grow unstable across Teyvat, they trigger what the game calls the Holy Soil phenomenon, a crisis that endangers civilization itself. In response, the Tsaritsa summons representatives from all seven nations to Snezhnaya. That means the Archons come together on screen, joined by Neuvillette and other familiar allies.

For long-time players this is the kind of payoff the game has been building toward for years. Snezhnaya has been the mystery nation since launch, and seeing the gods of Teyvat gather there under the Cryo Archon's call is about as big as Genshin's story gets.

There's also a concrete reward for keeping up: finishing the new Archon Quest within the designated period grants 560 Primogems plus Character Ascension Materials for Mitya. Optional Secret Tsarist Assignments add more rewards on top, including a Snezhnaya-themed Wind Glider.

New area: Novokitezhgrad and Wingspan Peak

The map expands eastward across Snezhnaya with three headline locations:

• Novokitezhgrad – an underground city encased in Kresnik Kristall and Snezhnaya's main source of the material. You get there by rail.
• Wingspan Peak – farther east, home to the next location on the list.
• Old Kitezhgrad – Snezhnaya's first city.

Exploration revolves around contaminated Kresnik Kristall deposits. To clear them you'll use Prime Ice Constructs and two new elemental shotguns, which sounds like a fun break from the usual puzzle toolkit. A large new boss creature also lurks in the region. New Meeting Point quests round out the area content.

New characters: Mitya and Valeriy

Both newcomers are Electro, and both are built around Stellar-Conduct.

Mitya is the star of the update. He turns your party's Superconduct reactions into Stellar-Conduct and makes them hit harder. His Elemental Skill is flexible: he can lean into periodic off-field damage, or spend stored energy on enhanced Charged Attacks when you want him on the field. His Elemental Burst deals AoE Electro damage.

Valeriy is the more accessible option. As a 4-star, he gives shields and boosts Electro damage, with the most value in Stellar-Conduct lineups. Anyone who wants to try the new reaction without spending heavily should keep him in mind.

Banners: Furina returns, Natlan Chronicled Wish

The Event Wishes are split into two phases:

• Phase 1: Mitya (new), Valeriy (new) and a Furina rerun.
• Phase 2: Zibai and Linnea reruns.

Phase 2 also brings a new Chronicled Wish focused on Natlan. It features Varesa, Chasca, Xilonen, Mualani and Kinich, together with their signature weapons. If you skipped Natlan's characters the first time round, this is a rare chance to target one of them.

Furina's rerun next to Mitya is the real dilemma for many players. She is still one of the most useful supports in the game, so anyone without her has a tough call to make before Phase 1 ends.

Events and other content

Version 7.2's flagship event is "The Grand Defense: Defy the Unjust Judgement." It ties into the Archon Quest and can also be reached through Quick Start. Players team up with allies from across Teyvat against the Holy Soil crisis. Rewards include Primogems and upgrade materials, plus a free 4-star character of your choice, which is always a highlight for newer accounts.

Other activities announced for the version:

• A filming event set in Snezhnaya.
• A mining challenge in Natlan.
• The return of Ley Line Overflow for extra enhancement materials.
• Miliastra Wonderland gets a refreshed lobby, expanded stage-editing tools and a free 4-star cosmetic set.

Genshin Impact 7.2 livestream codes

The Special Program delivered three redeem codes worth 300 Primogems in total:

Livestream codes traditionally expire quickly, so redeem them as soon as you can, either in-game or on the official redemption page.

Why it matters

Genshin Impact has spent years teasing Snezhnaya, and Version 7.2 is where that build-up starts to pay off on a grand scale. With the seven nations in one place, a world-ending threat on the horizon and a playable support kit built on the region's new reaction, "Hour of Ruin" looks like a key update for both lore fans and team builders. Between the Archon Quest rewards, the free 4-star and the codes, it's also a generous patch for free-to-play players. Mark November 4 on your calendar.

This article was written by AI (Claude) and checked against the sources above. Games are updated regularly, so details may change.