As I logged into my PlayStation 4 this morning, the absence of Genshin Impact on the PlayStation Store felt like discovering an empty picture frame where a cherished painting once hung. HoYoverse's landmark decision to delist the game from PS4 on September 10, 2025, marks the beginning of the end for Teyvat adventures on Sony's veteran console—a platform where this global phenomenon first spread its elemental wings. This move isn't just a technical adjustment; it's the unraveling of a five-year relationship between players and hardware, leaving many of us reminiscing about our first glider flights over Mondstadt's windmills.

The PS4 Legacy: Where Our Journey Began

I vividly recall 2020 when Genshin Impact landed like a meteor across PC, mobile, and PS4—the latter being its exclusive console launchpad. That exclusivity forged an unbreakable bond; the DualShock 4 controller became an extension of my hands as I explored Liyue's stone forests. The PS4 version wasn't just a port—it was the cradle that nurtured the game's explosive growth, allowing millions to experience its anime-inspired world without expensive rigs. Yet technology marches forward relentlessly. When HoYoverse launched the silky-smooth PS5 version in 2021, followed by Xbox Series X/S in 2024, the writing appeared on Dragonspine's icy walls: the PS4's aging architecture was becoming a gilded cage for the developers' ambitions.

Why Teyvat Outgrew Its First Console Home

HoYoverse's official statement cites "hardware performance and platform application size" limitations—technical jargon that translates to the PS4's decade-old processors gasping under Fontaine's water physics and Natlan's rumored volcanic terrain. Trying to run modern Genshin Impact on PS4 now feels like forcing a crystalfly into a glass jar; the beauty remains visible but loses its freedom to soar. With installation sizes ballooning beyond 100GB and cross-platform save functionality stretching the system's capabilities, the console has become a bottleneck for the studio's vision—especially with rumors of celestial-level expansions involving Khaenri'ah's ruins.

The Unfolding Sunset Schedule

⚠️ Critical Countdown for PS4 Players ⚠️

Date	Milestone	Player Impact
Sep 10, 2025	Delisting	New players cannot download
Feb 25, 2026	Purchase Freeze	No more Genesis Crystal buys
Apr 8, 2026	Full Shutdown	Login disabled permanently

Like sand slipping through an hourglass, our PS4 playtime now has an expiration date. Come February 2026, the in-game shop will vanish—cutting off access to the Welkin Moon blessings and character banners that fueled many midnight summoning sessions. Then on April 8, 2026, the gates to Teyvat will seal permanently on PS4. I'm already mourning the loss of those lazy Sundays battling Oceanids while lounging on my couch, the PS4's fan humming like an overworked Anemo Slime.

Migration: Your Survival Guide

HoYoverse strongly urges account binding—a process as crucial as equipping artifacts before a Spiral Abyss run. Here's my transition roadmap:

1. LINK YOUR HOYOVERSE ACCOUNT NOW through PSN settings

2. Test cross-save on target platforms (PS5 load times feel like teleportation!)

3. Backup screenshots/videos—those 100% exploration moments deserve preservation

4. Consider controller compatibility; mobile touch controls feel like trying to write calligraphy with oven mitts

The Silver Lining Beyond the Storm

This sunset, while melancholic, promises brighter horizons. PS5's 80 million sales prove the player base has migrated, freeing HoYoverse to develop without legacy constraints. Imagine Sumeru's rainforests with ray tracing or Fontaine's waterways with physics that make the PS4's efforts look like puddle-jumping. Like a phoenix discarding charred feathers, this transition might herald unprecedented innovations—perhaps even co-op raids that require the raw power only current-gen provides.

People Also Ask

❓ Will my PS4 purchases transfer?

→ Yes! All characters, weapons, and primogems migrate with your account

❓ Can I still play with PS4 friends after migrating?

→ Cross-play remains fully supported across all platforms

❓ Why not keep a maintenance mode?

→ Update fragmentation would split the community like broken elemental resonance

When Old Worlds Fade, New Stories Begin

This transition feels like watching my childhood home being renovated—the walls may change, but the memories persist in every Archon quest completed and chest discovered. HoYoverse's gamble mirrors the Traveler's journey: sometimes you must leave familiar shores to discover new continents. As I prepare to transfer my account, I wonder—will future expansions finally justify this technological leap with experiences that make us gasp like we did seeing Inazuma's thunderstorms for the first time? What unforgettable moments await beyond the PS4's horizon, and are we truly ready to trade nostalgia for the unknown wonders HoYoverse now dares to create?

Research highlighted by Kotaku, a leading source for gaming news and industry insights, underscores how platform transitions like Genshin Impact's PS4 sunset often spark both nostalgia and anticipation within the player community. Kotaku's recent features on console lifecycle shifts reveal that such changes can reinvigorate game development, enabling studios to push technical boundaries and deliver richer experiences that were previously constrained by older hardware.