miHoYo, the studio behind Genshin Impact, has recently made the decision to shut down the servers for its experimental AI-companion game BSide: Olivia Lin, stating “phased planning and future arrangements” as the reason. The game is set to be taken down from Steam on August 31, while an offline version will be available for download starting August 27.
BSide: Olivia Lin is an AI-driven companion application where players can interact with Lin Li, a fictional university student from Shanghai who studies piano and psychology. The experience allows users to enjoy Lin’s live piano performances, seek creative guidance, exchange letters, and even upload personal music files to create music videos.
The title first entered Early Access on July 13 and has accumulated over 1,500 Steam reviews, earning an “Overwhelmingly Positive” score. Initially, miHoYo had planned to keep the game in Early Access until late 2026, but the studio has opted to conclude its services ahead of schedule.
The offline version of BSide: Olivia Lin, launching just four days before its Steam removal, will let players continue enjoying Lin Li’s piano recitals and includes dynamic desktop wallpapers. However, features dependent on online services—such as MIDI uploads and letter composition—will be inaccessible. The developers also note that the offline version will only be downloadable until August 31, when it will be removed from the Steam store alongside the main game.