In this ongoing age of transition to a new generation of consoles, one great way for a game developer to cash in is to port their most recognizable titles to newer consoles. Lots of developers are eager to put their games on the PS5 and the Xbox Series X, and for good reason.Genshin Impactis just one of many games that’s doing this. Before the end of April,Genshin Impactwill be available on the PS5. Both hardcore fans and potential fans who haven’t tried it yet will be happy to have the option to enjoy a version of the game optimized for the PS5’s power.
However, the PS5 version ofGenshin Impactisn’t the only port that miHoYo, the game’s creator studio, has in development. Fans are still waiting on a Switch port. Unlikegames likePersona 5,where fans are still dreaming of a Switch port announcement,Genshin Impactis known to have a Switch version on the way. Somehow, though, its release date remains a mystery, while the PS5 version manages to race ahead of it. Why could it be that miHoYo’s next-gen version ofGenshin Impactis ready to go before the Switch version? It’s hard to say what the answer is, but either way, it’s an inconvenience for some fans.
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Switching to Switch
One would expect the Switch version ofGenshin Impactto be ahead of the PS5 version. The game released in September 2020,well before the PS5 released. In fact, the Switch version ofGenshin Impactwas public knowledge before the PS5 version, so it seems logical that the Switch version would be farther along than the PS5 version. Somehow, that’s not the case. Even though the PS5 is many years younger than the Switch, it would seem that miHoYo hasn’t prioritized entering the Switch audience.
That could be part of the reason that the PS5 version is out first. Maybe miHoYo has fast-trackedthe PS5 version ofGenshin Impacton purpose in order to entice PlayStation fans into picking up a second copy. The PS4 version already works on the PS5, but even so, some fans might prefer to start the game over with a true port. It’s also possible that miHoYo had an easier time going from one PlayStation to another than it is rearrangingGenshin Impactfor Switch. Maybe it’s run into some obstacles optimizing the game for Nintendo’s modal console that aren’t present in the more traditional PS4. On the other hand, ifGenshin Impactworks on both PS4 and mobile, it’d be surprising if the Switch is a big hurdle to clear.
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Holding Out for An Announcement
Genshin Impactfans would certainly love to hear something about the Switch edition sooner rather than later. Even if the game has already sold fantastically and reached a broad audience, there’s room for it to grow as long as it isn’t on certain consoles. There’s surely lots of potential buyers out there who are interested inGenshin Impactbut are holding out specifically to play it on Switch for all kinds of reasons, whether it’spreference for Nintendo’s consoleor simply that the Switch is a fan’s best means of playing it.
There is a silver lining to the impending launch ofGenshin Impacton PS5. If that edition of the game is good to go, then miHoYo will probably switch back to focusing on the Switch edition after this. After all, there’s no sign ofGenshin Impacton Xbox, so the Switch version will be miHoYo’s big remaining project. Even if it’s taking the Switch version a long time to release, at least the audience will have plenty to do when the game comes out. miHoYo issupplying so much new content toGenshin Impacton the regular that the game isn’t going anywhere.
Genshin Impactis available now on PC, PS4, and mobile. The PS5 version releases on April 28, and the Switch version is in development.
