The free-to-play gimmicky anime game, Genshin Impact, was initially unveiled at E3 2019. Its development took about four years until it was finally released for Windows, Mobile and PlayStation 4 in September 2020. Since its release, this Triple-One anime game has received widespread acclaim across all platforms.
Nearly two years later, a vast majority of players remain dissatisfied. Because there is no official Xbox port of Genshin Impact. Let’s take a look at every update to date, and then together we’ll surmise the possibility of an Xbox port.
Is Genshin Impact available on Xbox?
No, there is no Xbox version of Genshin Impact yet. Publisher miHoYo is currently focusing on developing a Switch version of the game. Only after that could you expect it to go to Xbox.
The initial development of Genshin Impact proved to be a rather difficult journey for miHoYo. Their game was initially susceptible to unwarranted criticism. Some labeled it a “Breath of the Wild” doppelganger, while others criticized the anime-esque visuals.
All in all, the free-to-play gacha game launched on September 28, 2020. Surprisingly, Genshin Impact’s Nintendo and Xbox ports were nowhere to be found. This led to primary speculation about both versions to be released shortly after.
This deduction was ultimately correct, but only for the Nintendo port. Genshin Impact for Switch has reportedly been confirmed in October 2020. That might lead you to suspect it’s already out for the Switch, but the truth is far from it. The Switch version is still in the development phase two years later.
Currently, it is in the top three most profitable games for mobile. It raised more than $3 billion for publisher miHoYo.
It’s kind of weird to see a port take so long. A perfectly capable developer like miHoYo could make a new game in that time. Ultimately, this left players with the impression that the Chinese studio is just bad at ports.
Why is Genshin Impact not on Xbox?
I can’t give you a solid reason why miHoYo doesn’t opt for the Xbox platform just yet. Whispers suggest Xbox’s presence in Asia is just too low. And Asia is simply Genshin Impact’s concentrated market. This can be flagged as the nagging cause of the absence on Xbox.
Given the aforementioned status for the long-developing Nintendo port, the chances of an Xbox version appear.”thin”. If a port is confirmed, you can expect Genshin Impact to be released on Xbox One as well.
Xbox Series X|S owners are eager to leverage their ray tracing capabilities with Genshin Impact. Unfortunately, they may have to put their desire to visit Chinju Forest on hold for a while.
Genshin Impact Xbox Release Date
Expecting Genshin Impact to be released in 2022 is wishful thinking at this point. At the earliest, you can look forward to Genshin Impact coming to Xbox in early 2024.
The Xbox One has reportedly sold more than 51 million units. The latest editions of Microsoft’s console saga, the Xbox Series X and S, have reportedly sold 15 million copies. That’s serious potential for miHoYo, both for popularity and financial gain.
Xbox has also sold more than PlayStation in its home country of Japan. That was partly due to the PS5’s tight stock, but a win is a win. You can see the market is open for Genshin Impact to take full advantage of it. There’s no shortage of players or hardware limitations to suggest any reason to hold back an Xbox release.
miHoYo released a statement in early 2021 claiming that the next generation will have releases. They said, “We have plans regarding next-generation consoles and we will announce them as these plans take shape.” Shortly after, Genshin Impact was released for PS5 only. Talk about a spine.
Although the released statement suggests that if an Xbox version takes shape, it will only be for the Series X|S. That will be a bummer, but still much better than not getting a chance to play it at all.
A prevailing gossip seems to be that Sony paid miHoYo not to release Genshin Impact on Xbox for a certain number of years. But as you know, it is never good to make such definitive statements. The Xbox platform is proving to be an ever fertile field for the financial success of the gaming industry. And we know that if there is money to be made, you will eventually see Genshin Impact appear.
Is Genshin Impact on Xbox Game Pass?
Xbox’s prized Game Pass has been a devastating force to be reckoned with in recent times. It houses a catalog of over 100 titles, with new additions added every month. So that begs the question, will Genshin Impact be available on Xbox Game Pass? To be frank, I don’t think Genshin Impact will be coming to Xbox Game Pass.
You already know that it follows the game as a service model. Assuming it comes to Game Pass is like hoping for an umbrella to randomly appear on a rainy night. As an aside, though, you might see it as part of Game Pass if Microsoft signs an exclusivity deal — again, unlikely.
Xbox’s Game Pass is single-handedly responsible for PlayStation’s full scrutiny of its services. The famous PlayStation Plus had a ten-year history of users. But even with the added PlayStation Now, that all seems washed away. This led to the current tier system subscription service that you can now see on PlayStations.
A pioneer may be helpful, but the Game Pass doesn’t match the motto of miHoYo’s gacha game. We’ll send you in when we get a solid lead. Until then, check out this unique collection of all things Genshin Impact.
How do you play Genshin Impact with an Xbox controller?
Are you a die-hard fan of Xbox? I have a temporary solution for you to suppress those tendencies. By that I’m referring to grabbing an Xbox controller in your hand and lunging straight into Teyvat.
It’s nice to have a controller, especially for a complex mechanical game like Genshin Impact. Plus, the overall hand-friendliness is just too cozy to miss. You can follow the steps mentioned above to get your controller working on Genshin Impact.
USB cable
Xbox controllers are so well supported on Windows that there are multiple ways to connect them. If you have your USB charging cable with you, do the following:
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Connect both ends of your USB cable to the respective ports on your PC and controller. Turn on your controller.
- Refer to the in-game Settings window.
- Click on the Service section. You will see a drop-down menu next to the Controlling type choice.
- Change the selected keyboard control type to controller.
- You’re all set, so dive into the game.
Bluetooth connection
In this day and age, wired controllers are almost obsolete. Bluetooth connectivity has taken the world by storm. So if you want to connect wirelessly then follow this,
- On your PC’s Start screen, refer to the Start menu.
- you have to go to Bluetooth and other device:.
- Press the Add a device option.
- Turn on your Xbox controller and it will appear as an available connection on your PC screen. Press connect.
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Start up Genshin Impact, go to the Settings Window, and go to Service.
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Change the keyboard control type to controller. You’re all set, so jump into the game.
If you’re a person who can’t fathom Genshin Impact without an Xbox controller, this is as close as it gets. While this may not be the console banking experience, it is technically still a Microsoft domain.
Conclusion
It remains unclear why miHoYo Genshin is not publishing Impact on Xbox. The vulnerable audience could be a factor, or maybe someone doesn’t want them to release their golden goose on Xbox. They can just be bad at porting games to Microsoft consoles, you know.
Whatever the culprit, hardware or other factor of Xbox is not responsible. At this point, all Xbox owners can hope that the Switch version of Genshin Impact will be released soon. This should eventually pave the way for confirmation of the Xbox version.
That’s all the information we have on hand for a Genshin Impact Xbox Edition. If you still want to explore more of the game, you’re in luck. Here you will find a list of all notable places to visit in Teyvat.
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