On July 18, 2025, the gacha gaming scene is gearing up for a big face-off, as Genshin Impact’s version 5.8 and Wuthering Waves’ version 2.5 livestreams are dropping way too close to each other. It’s like the ultimate gacha showdown, with fans calling it a "gacha PVP" moment. Both games are fighting for the same players, and this overlap is turning up the heat.
The Clash of Titans: Livestream Schedules Collide
The Wuthering Waves 2.5 livestream kicks off at 7:00 PM (UTC+8), and Genshin Impact’s 5.8 Special Program follows just an hour later at 8:00 AM (UTC-4) on July 18, 2025. You can catch both on their YouTube and Twitch channels, where they’ll spill the beans on new patches, characters, events, and freebies. For Genshin Impact, expect stuff about the Sunspray Summer Resort, a beachy new area, plus an Archon Quest and a story quest for Ineffa. Wuthering Waves is bringing Phrolova, a villain-turned-5-star Resonator, along with other characters and events.
This tight schedule feels like a straight-up challenge between miHoYo’s Genshin Impact and Kuro Games’ Wuthering Waves. Both games are open-world gacha RPGs from China, and they’re fishing in the same pond—62% of Genshin fans also watch Wuthering Waves stuff. Social media is buzzing with fans picking sides, and these livestreams are basically a cage match to see who can grab more attention.
Wuthering Waves: The Rising Star
Since launching in May 2024, Wuthering Waves has been making serious waves. It pulled in over 30 million pre-registrations and racked up 10.1 million hours watched in its first week on streaming platforms. The combat’s intense, with dodges, parries, and counterattacks that feel like Dark Souls meets Punishing: Gray Raven, making Genshin’s elemental combos seem a bit basic. Exploration is smoother too, with grappling hooks and wall-running that give it an Assassin’s Creed feel, compared to Genshin’s clunky climbing.
Kuro Games has been awesome about fixing issues. The launch had bugs like crashes, but they rolled out patches fast, owned up to the mess, and hooked players up with free 5-star characters and premium currency (Lustrous Tides). That kind of move turned grumbles into cheers. Their gacha system is also easier on the wallet, guaranteeing a standard 5-star character after 50 pulls and a chosen one after 80, unlike Genshin’s tougher pity system.
Money-wise, Wuthering Waves is catching up. It made nearly $40 million in its first month, just behind Genshin’s $41 million in March 2024. One banner for Yinlin spiked daily revenue by 174.8%. With PlayStation 5 and macOS versions dropping in early 2025, the game’s only getting bigger.
Genshin Impact: Facing the Heat
Genshin Impact has been the gacha champ since 2020, with a gorgeous world and deep story, but lately, players are fed up. They’ve been begging for better artifact farming and more fun endgame modes forever. Version 5.7 added a new endgame mode, but some found it too brutal, even for big spenders. The gacha system’s rough too—players might drop $475 just to get one character, which led to the FTC forcing clearer cost warnings.
Drama’s been piling up too. In March 2025, miHoYo swapped out voice actor John Patneaude (Kinich) after he backed a SAG-AFTRA strike against AI using actors’ work without protections. Fans weren’t happy, and it made miHoYo look out of touch. Compared to Wuthering Waves’ speedy fixes, Genshin’s slow response to feedback—like not adding four-character teams—has players saying miHoYo’s coasting on its rep.
Viewership’s taking a hit too. In May 2024, Genshin’s hours watched dropped 25.6%, probably because Wuthering Waves stole the spotlight. On Reddit and X, fans are calling Wuthering Waves a better version of Genshin, praising its combat, movement, and dev communication. Version 5.8’s summer island and Nod-Krai teases need to deliver big to turn things around.
The Stakes of the Livestream Showdown
These July 18 livestreams are make-or-break. Wuthering Waves can cement its spot as a top dog by showing off Phrolova and keeping up its generous, player-focused approach. Genshin Impact needs to win back fans with version 5.8, maybe with killer updates or signs they’re finally listening. The Sunspray Summer Resort and story quests are cool, but they won’t cut it if it’s just more of the same.
This gacha PVP is about more than views—it’s about who’s doing right by players. Wuthering Waves is on a hot streak with its fresh ideas and quick fixes, while Genshin Impact is struggling to keep its crown. With new games like Neverness to Everness and Arknights: Endfield coming, both need to step up to stay on top.
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