There’s a game called Genshin Impact, which is free to play and looks like an anime. It was first shown at a big gaming event in 2019. It took about four years to make the game, and it was finally released for computers, phones, and PlayStation 4 in September 2020.
Since it came out, many people on all platforms have liked this high-quality anime game. However, even after many years, many players are still unhappy because the game is unavailable on Xbox.
Let’s look at all the updates so far and then consider whether Genshin Impact might be available on Xbox in the future.
Is Genshin Impact Available on Xbox?
No, there isn’t a version of Genshin Impact for Xbox yet. The company that makes the game, miHoYo (now called HoYoverse), is working on creating a version for the Nintendo Switch first. Only after that, might they start working on a version for Xbox.
When miHoYo first made Genshin Impact, it was hard for them. People criticized the game without good reason. Some said it copied another game called “Breath of the Wild,” and others didn’t like how it looked like an anime.
The game was released for free on September 28, 2020. But it wasn’t available on Nintendo Switch or Xbox, which made people think it might come to those consoles soon.
People were right about the Nintendo version coming soon, but it’s still not out. They said Genshin Impact would come to the Switch in October 2020, but it’s taking a long time to finish, even after two years.
It’s strange for a game to take so long to be ready for a new console. The company miHoYo is good at making games, so it’s surprising. People are starting to think the company isn’t good at making games for different consoles.
Genshin Impact is one of the top three games that makes the most money on mobile phones. It has earned over $3 billion for miHoYo, so they aren’t rushing to put the game on other gaming systems.
Why Isn’t Genshin Impact on Xbox?
I don’t have a definite answer for why miHoYo hasn’t put Genshin Impact on Xbox yet. Some people say it’s because Xbox isn’t very popular in Asia, where many Genshin Impact players are.
This might be the main reason why it’s not on Xbox. Considering how long it’s taken for the game to be made available on Nintendo consoles, it’s not very likely that it will come to Xbox.
But if it does happen, it might also be released for Xbox One. People with Xbox Series X|S are excited to play Genshin Impact with better graphics, but they might have to wait longer to explore Chinju Forest in the game.
Why Did Microsoft Want to Bring Genshin Impact to Xbox?
According to a news story from Reuters, something interesting came to light. It turns out that when the game Genshin Impact was still being made, Microsoft got in touch with its creator, miHoYo.
Microsoft had an idea and wanted to give money to Chinese game makers to bring their games to computers and gaming consoles. One of the games that Microsoft was interested in was Genshin Impact.
Someone who didn’t want to be named told Reuters that Microsoft tried to make a deal happen, but nothing good came out of the talks. On the other hand, Sony, a competing company, was able to figure things out. That’s why the game became exclusive to Sony’s gaming console.
The source explained that Microsoft and miHoYo haven’t talked to each other since their discussions fell apart. In my honest opinion, based on what’s been said, it seems very unlikely that a Genshin Impact version for Xbox will happen.
The Switch version of the game was talked about long ago, but it still hasn’t come out for the Switch yet. On the other hand, there hasn’t been any news about the game coming to Xbox.
But even if it did, I don’t think it would be available before 2026. For Microsoft to do well in China and the gaming world, they should create their own new game.
It doesn’t seem like miHoYO wants to bring their gacha game to Xbox. So, the best thing for Xbox to do to make players happy is to bring in some new games to compete with.
When Will Genshin Impact Be Released on Xbox?
Hoping Genshin Impact will come out in 2023 is like wishing for something that might not happen. It’s more likely that the game will be available on Xbox around early 2026, at the soonest.
I know it’s not very exciting to think about waiting until 2026 for the game on Xbox. The company behind the game, miHoYo, has had much time to bring it to Xbox, but they haven’t done it yet. It also doesn’t make sense for the Xbox version to come out before the Switch version, which seems far off.
The best situation would be announcing the Xbox version in late 2023 or early 2024. But considering how long it took them to develop the Switch version, waiting until 2026 seems likely, and even then, there’s no definite date.
If you really love Genshin Impact, you might want to take a look at our guide on “How to Play Genshin Impact on Steam Deck.” It’s a simple and quick guide to help you get started.