Sandrone, also known by the title Marionette, became a playable character in Luna VIII, the latest version of Genshin Impact. HoYoverse released the update on July 1, 2026, so the claim that “Sandrone has to wait until 7.0,” which circulated earlier, is no longer accurate.
Which version did Sandrone launch in?
During the promotional period, the community usually called Luna VIII version 6.7, following the version cycle. The official Genshin Impact channel used the name Luna VIII in its banner announcement video and its “Now Available” video. That is the name to prefer when looking things up, because it matches HoYoverse’s release materials directly.
- Special Program: June 18, 2026.
- Update date: July 1, 2026.
- Status: Sandrone appears in the Luna VIII Event Wish.
- Next milestone: version 7.0 opens on August 12, 2026, according to the official news page.
Why was the older article misleading?
Before a release date, version names, kits and banners are often mixed up between leaked test data, community predictions and official announcements. The previous version of this article also listed characters, combat mechanics and business figures that had nothing to do with the question about Sandrone. Those details were removed because they had no direct source link or took the focus away from the topic.
How to verify Genshin character information
A character should only be treated as confirmed when it appears on an official HoYoverse channel: a character introduction, a Special Program, an Event Wish announcement or the update notes. Posts in the HoYoLAB community area can still be written by users; the HoYoLAB domain does not by itself turn community content into a publisher announcement.
OtaHub’s take: the Sandrone case shows how quickly news headlines built around version numbers go out of date. When a game also uses chapter names such as Luna VIII, an article should give both the official name and the community’s familiar shorthand, and carry an update date so readers know which point in time the facts belong to.
Who is Sandrone, and what does she bring?
Sandrone is the Seventh of the Fatui Harbingers, nicknamed the Marionette. According to GosuGamers, she is an automaton built by Alain Guillotin in the image of his late sister Mary-Ann, and she first appeared in the 2022 Winter Night’s Lazzo video. Her arrival as a playable character in 2026 therefore ends a fairly long wait.
Per the special-program recaps from Gurugamer and AllThings.how, Sandrone is a 5-star Cryo Claymore user who comes with a new reaction, Stellar-Conduct (a Superconduct variant combining Cryo and Electro), built around a Polestar Field. Luna VIII splits its banners into two phases: phase 1 runs 1 to 21 July with Sandrone alongside a Citlali rerun, and phase 2 runs 21 July to 11 August with reruns of Columbina and Raiden Shogun.
The next milestone is Version 7.0, opening on 12 August 2026 in Asia (the Americas get it on 11 August), according to KeenGamer. That makes the claim that “Sandrone has to wait for 7.0” wrong on both timing and version name.
Sources: Genshin Impact videos Event Wishes Luna VIII and Luna VIII Now Available, and the HoYoverse news page. Updated September 30, 2026.
