I’ll be honest: when Kuro Games announced Wuthering Waves Version 1.2, “In the Turquoise Moonglow,” through the game’s official X account, I did a double-take. In a gacha landscape where livestreams are practically a religion, Kuro decided to skip the dog-and-pony show again. No redeem codes, no hour-long host banter—just a character preview and mechanics video, much like Version 1.1. As a player who has been riding the WuWa wave since launch, I respected the hustle. The update itself landed on August 15, 2024, and even now, in 2026, it remains a turning point worth revisiting.
Two New 5-Stars and a Freebie That Made Waves
Version 1.2 featured two new 5-star Resonators: Zhezhi and Xiangli Yao. Zhezhi, the icy-calm painter, and Xiangli Yao, the electro-based freebie, both arrived in featured Convenes. The update also pushed the next part of the Rover story mission, giving lore hounds something to chew on between pulls. But here’s the kicker: during the second phase, Kuro gave away one free copy of Xiangli Yao. Not a trial. Not a rental. A full-fledged 5-star character, no strings attached. In a genre where free 5-stars are rarer than a perfect Echo roll, that was huge. It was the kind of move that made Genshin Impact fans look over the fence and whisper, “Why can’t that be us?”
Quality-of-Life Changes: The Real Meat and Potatoes
The headline characters were nice, but the QoL changes were the meat and potatoes. Version 1.2 added:
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120 FPS support for PC players — a feature that had been on high-end rigs’ wishlists since day one.
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Excess Waveplate Storage — finally, a way to bank that precious stamina instead of watching it evaporate.
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Resonator Showcase — a cozy little stage to flex your builds and admire your favorites.
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Tons of other tweaks — because Kuro apparently doesn’t believe in half-measures.
I’ll admit, I was skeptical when I first heard about the 120 FPS support. “Will my GPU sound like a jet engine?” I wondered. But the difference was night and day. Combat felt smoother, dodges felt tighter, and my poor reaction time finally had a fighting chance. The excess Waveplate Storage was the cherry on top. No more waking up at 3 a.m. to burn stamina—just pure, unadulterated convenience.
| Feature | What It Did | Why It Mattered |
|---|---|---|
| 120 FPS Support | Unlocked high frame rates on PC | Smoother combat, better dodges |
| Excess Waveplate Storage | Let players bank stamina | Less FOMO, more flexibility |
| Resonator Showcase | Displayed built characters | Flexing and community sharing |
| Free Xiangli Yao | Gave a free 5-star in phase 2 | Massive generosity, player goodwill |
The Livestream That Wasn’t
Kuro Games didn’t hold a Version 1.2 livestream. That meant no redeem codes, which stung for about five minutes. But looking back, I think it was a smart play. Instead of padding runtime with awkward skits, they let the content speak for itself. The character preview video did the heavy lifting, and the community still had plenty to chew on. It also kept expectations in check. No overhyped promises, no “we hear you” platitudes—just patch notes and a release date. Sometimes less really is more.
The lack of a livestream also meant players likely wouldn’t receive the redeem codes they had grown accustomed to from the launch stream and from rival games like Genshin Impact and Honkai Star Rail. Still, Wuthering Waves has been more than generous in its rewards, and the second phase of Version 1.2 was proof. A free Xiangli Yao wasn’t just a nice bonus; it was a statement. Kuro was saying, loud and clear, that they were willing to give players something real.
Why Version 1.2 Still Matters in 2026
By 2026, Wuthering Waves has grown by leaps and bounds. There are more regions, more Resonators, and more ways to lose track of time. But Version 1.2 was the moment Kuro proved they were willing to be generous. A free 5-star, 120 FPS, and storage improvements might sound like standard fare now, but back then, they were a big deal. It set a precedent: players could expect meaningful QoL updates alongside flashy new characters. The ball was in Kuro’s court, and they didn’t fumble it.
One related headline even joked that Wuthering Waves added a feature Genshin Impact fans have been dreaming of. Another noted that 120 FPS support was arriving with Version 1.2, and a 2026 ranking of the best gacha games still keeps WuWa in the conversation. That’s no small feat. In a crowded market, staying relevant is half the battle, and Kuro has managed to do it by listening to the community—at least some of the time.
For anyone diving into the game today, I’d say this: appreciate the little things. The 120 FPS toggle, the banked Waveplate, the free Xiangli Yao you might have missed—they all add up. And if you’re a veteran like me, you probably remember exactly where you were when you pulled Zhezhi or claimed your free Xiangli Yao. It’s funny how a gacha update can become a core memory.
So here’s my hot take: Version 1.2 wasn’t just a patch. It was a promise. And in 2026, that promise has largely been kept. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got some Waveplates to burn—responsibly, of course. 😉