Genshin Impact sparks fan fury as it shuts down PS4 version

Developer MiHoYo has announced it will stop supporting the PS4 version of Genshin Impact, as it raises the specifications on mobile and PC.

Between the rise of live service games and movements like Stop Killing Games, there’s increasing concern around the future and preservation of online titles.

While this usually applies to games that are at risk of being wiped out entirely, for popular live service titles like Fortnite and Apex Legends, there’s the awkward task of navigating between console generations, as older versions on aging hardware become obsolete.

Developer MiHoYo is the latest studio to make this transition, with the announcement that it is shutting down the PlayStation 4 version of Genshin Impact.

In a post on the game’s website, MiHoYo cites ‘limitations related to hardware performance and platform application size’ as the reason for the decision.

For anyone who still plays on PlayStation 4, you still have some time to migrate over to another platform, such as the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S/X, PC, or mobile.

The termination of the PlayStation 4 version will be rolled out in three phases. Starting from October 9, 2025, anyone who hasn’t previously downloaded Genshin Impact on PlayStation 4 will no longer be able to download it on the PlayStation Store.

However, if you have, you can still re-download this version following this date, even if it’s deleted from the console.

The second deadline is on February 25, 2026, when all in-game purchases will be removed from the PlayStation 4 version. However, any purchased items from the PlayStation Store that have not yet been claimed after this date can still be obtained by logging into the PlayStation 4 version.

The final deathblow takes place on April 8, 2026, when update support will officially end for Genshin Impact on PlayStation 4. From this date, you will no longer be able to log in or play this version, while any unclaimed items after this date can only be redeemed by accessing the PlayStation 5 version.

MiHoYo has assured PlayStation 4 players can transfer their progress to other versions of Genshin Impact by ‘binding’ their login via email.

Shortly after this announcement, the developer revealed plans to raise the minimum and recommended specifications for Genshin Impact across mobile and PC.

‘Devices below the minimum specifications may still launch the game, but may experience performance issues including frame rate drops, instability, or crashes during gameplay,’ they note. These changes will roll out with its upcoming Song Of The Welkin Moon update.

While many have questioned how the ‘limitations’ of the PlayStation 4 can be an issue when Genshin Impact runs on mobile devices, the audience for the latter is very likely far bigger – so it’s more important for MiHoYo to keep it running on those platforms.

Nevertheless, not everyone’s happy about it. ‘A huge chunk of people are no longer gonna be able to play Genshin now. Good job Hoyo,’ one X user posted.

‘People are going to be so mad about this, but it’s time to upgrade the game, it’s a good thing,’ another added.

It might be an annoyance for those who haven’t yet upgraded to a PlayStation 5, but this will likely become more commonplace in the coming years – especially for titles like Fortnite, which still support the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and the original Nintendo Switch.

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