Google has always positioned its in-house Tensor line of chips as clever, AI-focused processors, often insisting they aren't meant to go toe-to-toe with the raw graphical power of high-end offerings from Qualcomm and MediaTek. For most everyday tasks, that distinction hasn't mattered. But for mobile gamers, especially those who play the most demanding titles, that philosophical difference has just become a very real problem.
The latest update for Genshin Impact, one of the most popular and resource-intensive mobile games on the market, has effectively rendered the game a stuttering, near-unplayable experience on Google's newest and most advanced smartphones, the Pixel 10 series.
The Official Word: A Quiet Exclusion
The trouble began with a seemingly routine post on the official Genshin Impact website detailing new minimum device requirements. For Android devices, a specific line has sent shockwaves through the Pixel community: "non Power VR GPU."
This technical specification effectively singles out a range of older hardware, including some legacy Apple A-series chips (like the A10X) and entry-level MediaTek devices (such as the Helio G35). Most notably, however, it targets the very architecture used in the Tensor G5 chip that powers the Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, and Pixel 10 Pro XL, which utilizes a PowerVR-designed GPU.
While the game can still be installed and launched on the Pixel 10 series, the experience is far from what one would expect from a flagship device in 2025. The new requirements seem to have introduced fundamental compatibility issues that severely hamper performance.
A Broken Experience: The Player Reaction
The online backlash was swift and vocal. Across social media platforms, Pixel 10 owners who also happen to be dedicated Genshin Impact players are reporting a disastrous gaming experience.
On Reddit, a user sparked a massive discussion thread titled, “Genshin Impact killed Google Pixel 10 Pro / Pro XL”, detailing the severe performance drops. The community sentiment is echoed in the comments, with one user noting in a follow-up post that while the stutters might be limited to certain areas, the overall instability makes prolonged play sessions a chore.
Visual evidence has also emerged on other platforms. A video posted on X by @Abhinov_v clearly demonstrates the issue on a Pixel 10 Pro XL. The gameplay is plagued by constant frame rate stutters and a semi-responsive touchscreen, making character control and combat—a core part of the Genshin experience—frustratingly difficult.
Where Does the Blame Lie?
The consensus among technically-inclined users points the finger not directly at Genshin Impact itself, but at the PowerVR GPU drivers within Google's Tensor G5 chipset. The PowerVR DXT-48 inside the Tensor G5 is, on paper, a capable GPU that should handle most modern games, even if it requires lowering some graphics settings.
The problem appears to be a lack of optimization between the game's updated engine and the specific driver implementation for the PowerVR architecture. When a game as massive as Genshin Impact formally drops support for a specific GPU lineage, it often indicates that the developer has deemed it too resource-intensive to maintain compatibility for a relatively small segment of the player base.
The Waiting Game: Is a Fix Coming?
As of now, Google has yet to publicly acknowledge the performance issues affecting Genshin Impact on its flagship devices. There is no official statement, workaround, or timeline for a potential fix. This silence leaves Pixel 10 owners who are invested in the world of Teyvat in a difficult position: either endure an unplayable experience or shelve the game indefinitely.
For a company that has staked its reputation on the Tensor platform, this incident serves as a stark reminder of the challenges that come with in-house silicon. While AI processing and photo enhancement are key selling points, for a growing number of users, a flagship phone must also be a capable gaming device. Until Google or HoYoverse addresses the driver compatibility, the Pixel 10's gaming credentials have taken a significant, and very public, hit.