From where I sit in 2026, the Wuthering Waves Fan Creation Event “Thaw of Eons” feels like a bright snapshot of a very specific moment. I was an ordinary Rover then, scrolling through social feeds between battles and exploration, and the announcement caught my eye because it was not just a promo post. It invited players to make something of their own around Version 1.1, “Thaw of Eons.” The pitch was simple and generous: create artwork that presents the world of Wuthering Waves, whether it was an illustration of a beloved character, a comical moment from an adventure, or a difficult combo I had finally mastered. Illustrations and videos were both welcome, and that flexibility made the event feel open to different kinds of fans rather than only polished illustrators.

The submission flow was straightforward in the way fan events often are. Creators posted their work on X, Instagram, or Facebook with both hashtags #WutheringWaves and #WuWaFanart, then completed the official submission form with their details. I remember thinking that the dual-hashtag rule was smart: it made entries easy to find, but it also meant that a post without both tags could quietly fall outside the event. The post had to be public, and deleted posts would not qualify for rewards. That last point felt obvious once I read it, but it was the kind of detail easy to miss in a rush.

The event period was June 29 to July 29, 2024, Pacific Time. From my 2026 perspective, this is no longer an active campaign; it closed long ago. Still, the structure is worth remembering. The rewards were layered in a way that gave many creators something to aim for, not just the top few.

🏆 | Place | Winners | Reward | | --- | --- | --- | | 1st | 5 | iPhone 15 Pro 512GB | | 2nd | 5 | 6,000 Astrites and 800 USD | | 3rd | 10 | 3,000 Astrites and 400 USD | | 4th | 15 | 2,000 Astrites and 200 USD | | 5th | 20 | 1,000 Astrites and official merchandise |

What I found most interesting was how the rules tried to keep the playing field clear. Multiple entries were allowed, and a creator could win multiple rewards, but the same work published on different platforms would not count more than once. That felt fair to me. It rewarded effort and range without letting cross-posting inflate a single piece. The event was open to all languages, too, and entries that differed only in language were treated as equivalent works. As a player who has watched fan communities stretch across regions, I appreciated that line. It made the event feel global in practice, not just in wording.

There were also exclusions. Works not created in accordance with Wuthering Waves were out. Plagiarism or infringement of intellectual property rights was out. Works submitted outside the event period were out. Works created with the assistance of AI technology were out. Works featuring extremely aggressive content, including pornography, violence, politics, or racism, were out. Works already used for commercial purposes, works previously entered into other fan creation events, and works deemed inappropriate by the judges were also excluded. In 2026, that AI clause reads as especially forward-looking. Back then it was already a clear boundary: the event wanted human-made fan creativity, not generated output.

The judging criteria were broad but sensible. Eligible works were evaluated on adherence to the theme, degree of completion, reception among players, and other relevant factors. I liked that reception mattered, because fan creation is social by nature. A piece did not have to be technically perfect to resonate. It had to feel connected to the theme and complete enough to stand on its own. The “other relevant factors” line left room for judgment, which is normal for a contest with thousands of possible entries.

One small but important note stuck with me: winners had to reply to official staff within seven days from the date of notification, or they would be considered to have waived the reward. That is the sort of deadline that can turn excitement into panic if someone misses a message. I remember checking my inbox more carefully during that period, even though I was only a spectator for most of it.

Looking back from 2026, the “Thaw of Eons” event is a reminder of how fan events can be more than contests. For me, it was a reason to pay closer attention to the art, clips, and combos other Rovers were making. It turned a version update into a shared creative prompt. The event has ended, the submission window is closed, and the prizes have long since been awarded, but the idea behind it still holds: make something with boundless imagination, present the world of Wuthering Waves, and share it with the community. That is why, even now, I still enjoy looking back at the entries and remembering the excitement of that summer.