When Genshin Impact and McDonald’s announced a collaboration for September 17 to September 29, 2024, plenty of players asked a simple question: could a fast-food promotion really make Teyvat feel closer to home? For fans in the United States, the answer was yes—at least for thirteen days. Looking back from 2026, the event stands as a neat snapshot of how far Genshin’s food crossovers had traveled, and why limited-time rewards can still make players nostalgic.
It was far from Genshin’s first food-company collaboration. Players had seen themed toys, Primogems, and cosmetics handed out through various partnerships, and food promotions were already a familiar rhythm in several Asian regions. KFC in China had offered exclusive toys, Pizza Hut Japan had introduced its own recipes, and Mega Coffee in Korea had paired with Genshin for a wind glider cosmetic. So what made the McDonald’s crossover stand out? It was the first Genshin Impact promotion to feature a food company in the United States. That detail gave the event a different kind of weight for North American fans who had watched other regions get themed menus and collectibles.
What Was Actually on the Menu?
The promotion ran from September 17 to September 29, 2024, and it was available only in the United States through the McDonald’s app. That last part mattered. Players could not simply walk into a restaurant, point at a poster, and expect a code. The app was the doorway, and the rewards were tied to specific purchases.
| Promotion | What customers bought | In-game rewards | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Genshin Impact Apple Pie | McDonald’s classic Apple Pie in limited-edition packaging | 40 Primogems, three Golden Apple Pastries, and a Golden Apple Pastry recipe | Packaging featured Kaedehara Kazuha and Beidou |
| Genshin Impact Deluxe McCrispy Meal | Deluxe McCrispy, fries, the limited-edition Apple Pie, and a drink | Wings of Delicacies wind glider and Celebration: Crispy and Sweet namecard | No Primogems were included |
So what did fans get for their trouble? The Apple Pie was the simpler offer, but it packed a surprising amount of value. The packaging alone was a collectible for Kazuha and Beidou fans, and the in-game bundle included 40 Primogems, three Golden Apple Pastries, and a recipe that could enhance a player’s combat strength. Recipes had appeared in earlier food collaborations too, including a Pizza Hut Japan and Genshin Impact event, so the idea was not entirely new. Still, it gave the promotion a gameplay hook beyond the usual currency drop.
The Deluxe McCrispy Meal took a different approach. It bundled the Deluxe McCrispy, fries, the limited-edition Apple Pie, and a drink, then rewarded players with a code for the Wings of Delicacies wind glider and the Celebration: Crispy and Sweet namecard. The glider was the headline cosmetic. Genshin fans had seen a similar wind glider reward through the Mega Coffee partnership, so the McDonald’s version carried a familiar kind of appeal: a visible, permanent-looking decoration for a journey across Teyvat. The namecard added a smaller personal touch, the sort of item that makes a profile feel like it remembers a specific moment in the game’s history.
Why Did This Crossover Stick in Players’ Memories?
A food promotion lives or dies on whether the exclusive items feel worth the extra stop. Genshin players are used to Primogems, recipes, gliders, and namecards, so the bar is not low. The McDonald’s event worked because it split its appeal cleanly. The Apple Pie was the low-friction option with Primogems and a recipe. The meal was the bigger commitment with a glider and namecard. Who could resist a wind glider that matched a fast-food memory? And isn’t that the strange charm of live-service crossovers—turning a lunch order into a small piece of game history?
At the time, there was no word about the promotion coming to other countries. Official event details and rules were shared through HoYoLAB, the McDonald’s app, and Genshin Impact’s social channels, but the offer itself stayed US-only. That limitation made the event feel regional, almost like a limited banner that only one server could pull on. Genshin had done wilder collaborations outside the US before, including a Discovery Channel partnership that used Genshin characters to spread awareness of climate change. Next to that, an apple pie and a chicken sandwich might sound modest. Yet the McDonald’s crossover had a very specific pull: it was the first Genshin and McDonald’s team-up, and it brought a food-company promotion to US players in a way that had not happened before.
By 2026, this is a past event. The promotion ended in September 2024, so players should treat those codes as expired rather than as an active offer. That does not make the crossover any less interesting as a time capsule. It shows how Genshin Impact kept mixing in-game rewards with everyday purchases, and how a fast-food app could briefly become part of the Teyvat routine. Fans who missed it can still look back at the packaging, the glider, and the namecard and ask the obvious question: would a similar event work again in 2026? The original announcement did not promise a repeat or a wider rollout, so for now the McDonald’s crossover remains a memorable one-off from Genshin’s long list of collaborations. 🍎🍔🎮✨