The release date of Snezhnaya in next region after Natlan in Genshin Impact, predicted to arrive in 2026, even if a fixed date has not yet been shared.

While the Nation of Cryo has been abundantly mentioned since the game’s release back in 2020, mainly because the Fatui under the Tsaritsa’s reign hail from Snezhnaya, the region is still drowned in mystery. The information about Snezhnaya and the Cryo Archon has developed over the years, and even perception about them has changed thanks to the new details that have been gradually released. Having met several Fatui Harbingers in Genshin Impact, each with their own unique personality, goals, and things to say about the Tsaritsa, it’s tough to determine exactly what to expect from the region as a whole.

When Snezhnaya Is Being Added To Genshin Impact (Cryo Region’s Release Date Predictions)

The Nation Of Cryo May Arrive In September 2025

The main prediction is that Snezhnaya will be released in Version 6.0 in 2026 and, considering the game’s release calendar over the past few years, Version 5.9 may not exist since Versions 4.9 and 3.9 were not released. Instead, the game jumped from Versions 4.8 and 3.8 to Versions 5.0 and 4.0, respectively. As such, it’s expected that at least one full update will be skipped ahead of the Version 6.0 release. Because of the game’s fixed six-week schedule for each update, it is possible to predict exactly when Genshin Impact 6.0 will be released.

If the game avoids any delays over the course of 2025, then it’s possible to predict that Version 6.0 will be released on September 10. Patches for the game are usually released on Wednesdays every six weeks and, considering the title has been on a steady release pace, it seems unlikely this schedule will be affected any time soon. Furthermore, with the possibility of Version 5.9 not existing and the jump from Version 5.8 to Version 6.0, September 10 truly seems like the most probable release date for Genshin Impact 6.0.

Every first regional patch for the RPG has been released during the summer of each year; Natlan was released on August 27 this year, while Fontaine arrived on August 16, 2023.

Snezhnaya’s Release Date In Genshin Impact Is Still Up For Debate, According To Leaks

Leaks Indicate One Patch May Be Skipped Entirely

Based on the previous updates in the game, September 10 is the most likely release date for Version 6.0 and Snezhnaya, but there are some rumors that contest that notion. In fact, a leak from August mentioned that the end of Natlan updates in Genshin Impact would occur with Version 5.7 and that the game would skip Version 5.8, too. The leak was and still is questionable but if true, then the possible release date for Snezhnaya would be brought forward to July 30, as Version 6.0 would occupy the slot previously occupied by Version 5.8.

This is only one of the rumors that contest the release of Snezhnaya in Version 6.0 in 2025. In fact, there is a leak by Full Stop Chan stating that Snezhnaya will only be released in Version 7.0. The leak, which was shared in a post tagged as “Questionable” on Reddit, mentions that Version 6.0 will take players to Nod-Krai, an autonomous area within Snezhnayan territory, but that the substantial portion of the Nation of Cryo would only arrive in Version 7.0 in 2026. The rumor is sustained by a leak by Flying Flame, which was also shared on Reddit.

Snezhnaya’s Release Date Could Be Pushed Into Genshin Impact 7.0

Leaks Mention That Other Map Areas Will Be Explored in Version 6.X Updates

The leaker states that Version 6.X patches will add all the areas from previous regions that have been heavily mentioned in the lore and other instances. As examples, the Reddit post brings forth Mount Esus in Fontaine and Dornman Port in Mondstadt. If true, this could potentially also see the release of Mare Jivari in Genshin Impact’s Natlan region. If the coned leaks prove themselves true and the Nation of Cryo’s release is pushed into Version 7.0, the release of Snezhnaya as a complete Nation may only occur on September 23, 2026.

This estimation takes into consideration the possibility of the game going through Version 5.8, skipping Version 6.9 entirely, and no delays in the regular six-week schedule.

As much as the confined release of Nod-Krai in Version 6.0 may contradict HoYoverse’s own roap, which mentioned Snezhnaya would be playable in 2025, it’s not an absurd notion. Even though Version X.0 releases have always been accompanied by a new Nation of Teyvat, Version 6.0 could potentially break the mold and limit players to Nod-Krai and not Snezhnaya as they would expect – even though Nod-Krai is still, technically part of Snezhnaya. During the Version 5.3 livestream, HoYoverse confirmed that Nod-Krai is set to appear in the Genshin Impact’s near future.

This could mean that Nod-Krai will be released as a standalone non-Snezhnaya map in Version 5.X patches, before Snezhnaya’s release in Version 6.0. However, Nod-Krai was also directly compared to the other six Nations of Teyvat, which makes it seem just as important as Natlan and Fontaine, for example. This is what helps sustain the rumors that Snezhnaya, in a regional sense, may have been pushed back, giving space for Nod-Krai to be released in Version 6.0. If true, then this will be the first year of content that doesn’t go fully into a Nation of Teyvat in Genshin Impact.

Contrary to the previous Nations and years, predicting when Snezhnaya will be released is a lot more difficult. This is mostly because of the several rumors surrounding the current year of content’s layout and the mentions of releasing Nod-Krai as a standalone portion of Snezhnaya instead of the Nation of Cryo itself. As always, leaks should be considered with caution. As the game progresses further into the Version 5.X patches, more details about the future of Genshin Impact should be teased by HoYoverse, especially with the new confirmed characters who had previously been leaked.

Source: Reddit (1, 2)