Genshin Impact creator miHoYo has released an AI companion on Steam, an eternal student cursed to never obtain her piano degree
miHoYo, the developer behind major gacha titles including Genshin Impact, Honkai Star Rail, and Zenless Zone Zero, has launched an AI companion application called BSide: Olivia Lin on Steam. The AI character, named Lin Li, is presented as an eternal student perpetually unable to complete her piano degree—a creative framing that adds narrative depth to the AI companion concept.
The release represents the first practical application of miHoYo’s expanded artificial intelligence strategy. Last month, the studio announced plans to invest up to $14.6 billion into AI development, positioning artificial intelligence as “a central and primary means of problem-solving” for the company’s future operations. This substantial investment signals miHoYo’s commitment to integrating AI technology throughout its business operations and development processes.
BSide: Olivia Lin is currently available exclusively on Steam within China. The application demonstrates miHoYo’s efforts to diversify beyond its core gaming portfolio while leveraging its substantial revenue from successful gacha properties to fund emerging technology ventures. The expansion into AI companions reflects broader industry trends of integrating AI systems into interactive entertainment and consumer applications.