Rejoice Xbox players for the popular, free-to-play RPG 'Genshin Impact' is finally available to download and play on Xbox

Promotional screenshot of the city of Mondstadt in Genshin Impact
Defend the peaceful city of Mondstadt from rampaging Hilichurls and the wrath of the draconic Stormterror. (Image credit: HoYoverse)

What you need to know

  • Genshin Impact is now available to download on Xbox Series X and Xbox Cloud Gaming.
  • It is a free-to-play action RPG where you explore a giant open-world fantasy land where you obtain playable characters via Gacha-pulling.
  • Genshin Impact's Xbox port will launch with all base game and post-launch content up to Version 5.2 and include bonus items for Xbox players and members of Xbox Game Pass.

On September 28, 2020, a little company called MiHoYo (also known as HoYoverse) launched Genshin Impact, a free-to-play action RPG for mobile devices and the PlayStation 4. This title captured the hearts and minds of gamers around the world for its expansive open-world exploration, in-depth combat, charming characters, and surprisingly high production values, given it was originally designed for mobile games.

Four years later, Genshin Impact has become one of the most successful videogame franchises in modern times, grossing nearly ten billion dollars worldwide (according to an analytic report by gameworldobserver) and winning several awards from Golden Joystick Awards, PlayStation Partner Awards, and The Game Awards. And now, Xbox players will finally get to experience the impact this title has made on the industry as Genshin Impact is now available to download and play on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox Cloud Gaming. For the latter, it also has full native touch controls across the entire game, meaning you don't need an attached Xbox controller to play it.

Unleash the power of the elements upon your foes. (Image credit: HoYoverse)

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For those unaware, Genshin Impact is a free-to-play action-RPG where you play as a world-hopping adventurer known as the Traveler. During your travels, you get ambushed by a mysterious and malevolent god who proceeds to kidnap your sibling and trap you in the fantasy world of Teyvat.

Now you must explore this strange land for clues as to where your sibling has been taken, recruit powerful allies to your quest, and empower yourself with new magical abilities and weapons to confront the god who trapped you here.

The Xbox version of Genshin Impact will include all the content from the base game and all its post-launch content updates up to the recently released, Version 5.2, the "Tapestry of Spirit and Flame". Additionally, Genshin Impact will include some special items for Xbox players such as early access to the 'Wings of Fate's Course Intertwined' Wing Glider (an item which allows you to glide across large distances) and recurring in-game item packs for Xbox Game Pass members.

To top it off, Genshin Impact doesn't require Xbox Game Pass Core for its multiplayer functions, so you and your friends can play together immediately in online co-op without needing to buy extra subscription services.

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Genshin is about to make a huge 'impact' on the Xbox community

Genshin Impact will officially launch on Xbox with Version 5.2! - YouTube Genshin Impact will officially launch on Xbox with Version 5.2! - YouTube
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Personally, I've been somewhat intrigued to play Genshin Impact for a long time just to see how this humble, little, game managed to garner so much acclaim and profits in such a short time, but never really found the time to do so until now.

I was especially interested in playing it after reading Mia Skye's overview of Genshin Impact. This game has so many cool playable party members you can collect (which you can potentially earn without spending a single dollar on the 'Gacha' elements) and some awesome, flashy-looking combo attacks you can pull off as a reward for building the correct party compositions for the right situations for both exploration and combat.

Will Genshin Impact wow Xbox audiences as it did on mobiles and PlayStation consoles, and become one of the best Xbox games? Will it also be able to stand out amongst the crowd of the best Xbox JRPGs like Metaphor: ReFantazio, Persona 3 Reload, and Yakuza: like a Dragon?

Join me and many other Xbox players to find out as we begin our adventures into the world of Genshin Impact now that it is available to download and play on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox Cloud Gaming.

Genshin Impact

Genshin Impact

Journey across the magical world of Teyvat to find your long-lost sibling, band together with a cast of unforgettable characters, and battle towering foes in HoYoverse's popular action-RPG, Genshin Impact.

👉Get for Xbox: Microsoft Store

👉Get for PC: HoyoVerse

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Alexander Cope
Contributor — Gaming

Alexander Cope is a gaming veteran of 30-plus years, primarily covering PC and Xbox games here on Windows Central. Gaming since the 8-bit era, Alexander's expertise revolves around gaming guides and news, with a particular focus on Japanese titles from the likes of Elden Ring to Final Fantasy. Alexander is always on deck to help our readers conquer the industry's most difficult games — when he can pry himself away from Monster Hunter that is!