HoYoVerse just confirmed Pearl, one of the IPC's Ten Stonehearts, will finally become playable as a 5-star Ice Elation character in version 4.6, making her the fourth Stoneheart after Topaz, Aventurine, and Jade. She has already appeared in the story as Planarcadia's CEO and an artwork investment specialist, so expect some serious corporate intrigue when she drops. The real hook for most whales is that she's the first Elation character in a while and the timing lines up perfectly with drip marketing for 4.6.

Meanwhile, the 4.5 Special Program stream "To Roll the Stars in Astropolis" (with a "Goodbye, All of Planarcadia" segment) hits on August 14 at 19:30 UTC+8 / 4:30 AM PT. It will showcase Waveflair Aventurine (5-star Quantum Elation) and Summeretto Robin (5-star Wind Remembrance) along with the next story beat. Aventurine getting his first alt in summer threads is peak IPC drip and Robin's Remembrance path shift has people already theorycrafting team comps.

The IPC curse seems to be lifting with Pearl landing in the first half of 4.6, and community chatter on X and Reddit is already memeing free Pearl claims and Elation sustain potential. This is classic HoYoVerse: tease the new waifu, drop the alt skins in the stream, and keep the gacha rolling. If you're still pulling on current banners, the August 14 program might just empty your wallet faster than a bad 50/50.