HoYoverse has pulled back the curtain on what players need to run Genshin Impact Version 7.0, and the message is clear: it's time to retire that aging GPU. The upcoming Snezhnaya expansion brings a visual overhaul that mostly preserves the existing platform requirements, but with two notable catches—a raised minimum spec on Windows and a crash warning for certain Android devices. If you're still gaming on a GeForce GT 1030 or an older phone, you'll want to read this carefully.

What HoYoverse Announced for Version 7.0

In a preview of the 7.0 update, HoYoverse confirmed that the published system requirements for iOS, iPadOS, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S will remain unchanged. That's good news for console and modern mobile players. The shakeup is on Windows and Android.

For Windows 10 and Windows 11 PCs, the new baseline GPU is now the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050. This is a step up from the previous minimum, which had long been the GeForce GT 1030 or equivalent. The change means any system relying on a GPU weaker than a GTX 1050—such as the GT 1030, older integrated graphics like Intel UHD 630, or very dated AMD Radeon HD cards—will officially fall below the required spec.

Over on Android, the situation is more nuanced. HoYoverse is not dropping support for specific chipsets outright, but the game will now display an on-screen warning if it detects a GPU that is likely to cause crashes. The company hasn't published a list of affected GPUs, but the warning is tied to certain older architectures that struggle with the new rendering techniques used in the Snezhnaya region. Players with mid-range phones from 2019 or earlier, or those using low-power Mali GPUs, should brace for possible instability.

What This Means for You—Broken Down by Platform

If You Play on a Windows PC

Pop open your system settings and check your graphics hardware. If you have a GeForce GTX 1050 or better—or an AMD equivalent like the Radeon RX 560—you're in the clear. The game should run without warnings, though your performance in Snezhnaya's snow-covered vistas will depend on your settings and CPU.

If your GPU is below that threshold, you've got a few options. First, try the game anyway. Minimum specs often have a little wiggle room; you might be able to limp along on the lowest settings at 720p. But if the game refuses to launch or crashes frequently, you'll need to upgrade. A used GTX 1050 Ti or GTX 1650 can be found for under $100 and will dramatically improve your experience. Alternatively, you could switch to cloud gaming via GeForce NOW, which runs Genshin Impact on virtual machines with much higher specs.

If You Play on Android

This warning is not a coincidence. Android GPUs have been a headache for HoYoverse for years, mainly because of inconsistent Vulkan driver support. Version 7.0's visual upgrades likely lean heavily on Vulkan features that older GPUs don't fully implement, leading to hard crashes that can't be fixed with a patch.

When you launch the game after the update, you might see a pop-up alerting you that your GPU may cause crashes. You can tap "OK" and continue playing, but be prepared for sudden closes, graphical glitches, or freezing during heavy combat. If you experience persistent issues, your best bet is to play on a different device—even a budget phone from 2022 or later with a Snapdragon 695 or Dimensity 810 will handle the game without this warning. For those who can't upgrade, make sure your Android system and graphics drivers are as up-to-date as possible; some manufacturers push driver updates through the Play Store.

Console and Apple Device Players

No action needed. If you're on a PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, or any modern iPhone or iPad, the requirements haven't changed. Version 7.0 will look and run just as well as previous updates did on your hardware.

How We Got Here: The Stepwise Hardware Progression

Genshin Impact launched in September 2020 with relatively modest PC system requirements: an Intel Core i5 and a GeForce GT 1030. Over the past five years, each major region pushed the envelope. Inazuma added more particle effects, Sumeru brought expansive landscapes, and Fontaine's underwater rendering stressed even mid-range GPUs. Still, HoYoverse kept the official minimum at the GT 1030—until now.

The jump to a GTX 1050 is modest on paper, but it reflects a real shift. The GTX 1050 has about 40–50% more GPU power than the GT 1030, and it fully supports DirectX 12 Feature Level 12_1, which the older card does not. Snezhnaya's heavy use of volumetric snow, dynamic weather, and complex shaders likely requires features that the GT 1030 simply can't accelerate in hardware.

On Android, crashes have been a recurring gripe. In 2023, HoYoverse introduced a "Compatibility Mode" for low-end Snapdragon devices, which sacrificed visual fidelity for stability. The 7.0 warning is a more transparent way of telling users that some phones are now on borrowed time.

What to Do Right Now

Before version 7.0 drops:

  • Check your Windows GPU: Press Win+R, type dxdiag, and go to the Display tab. If the name listed is something lower than a GTX 1050 or AMD RX 560, you'll need to prepare.
  • Check your Android GPU: Install an app like CPU-Z from the Play Store, open it, and look under the "SOC" tab for the GPU renderer name. If it's an older Mali-G52 MP2, Adreno 610, or PowerVR GE8320, you're likely to see the warning.
  • Update your drivers: On Windows, grab the latest drivers from NVIDIA or AMD's website. On Android, check for system updates in Settings and see if your phone maker offers a "GPU driver update" in the Play Store.
  • Consider a backup platform: If Genshin is your main game and your hardware is at risk, look into cloud gaming or start planning a hardware upgrade. Even a refurbished desktop with a $150 graphics card will keep you in Teyvat.
  • Watch for official lists: HoYoverse may publish a detailed GPU compatibility list closer to launch. Follow their official HoYoLAB forum for the latest.

What's Next

Version 7.0 is expected to land in the coming months, with a likely beta test before then. That beta will give early adopters a chance to see if their hardware holds up. If you're part of the beta, report any crashes promptly—HoYoverse has been known to tweak compatibility thresholds before the final release.

Longer term, Genshin Impact's hardware demands will only grow. The game is now a live-service behemoth with no end in sight; the final region, Khaenri'ah, is still years away. Each new map expansion will push more polygons, effects, and draw distances. Today's GTX 1050 minimum could become tomorrow's GTX 1060 baseline. Keep your PC flexible, and for mobile players, a device with a capable GPU is becoming less of a luxury and more of a necessity.