MiHoYo to Shut Down AI Desktop Companion "BSide: Olivia Lin" Online Services
MiHoYo has announced that its AI desktop companion software, BSide: Olivia Lin, will shut down its online services and be removed from Steam on August 31, 2026. An offline version will be released on August 27, 2026, allowing users to retain local features like dynamic wallpapers and music playback. This quick shutdown, occurring just over a month after its Steam Early Access launch, highlights the challenges and rapid lifecycle adjustments in the experimental AI companion market. It also demonstrates a user-friendly transition strategy by providing an offline version rather than completely disabling the software. Online features such as AI letter replies and MIDI uploads will be disabled, and users must manually back up their data before August 31, 2026, as online data will not sync to the offline version. Users must download the offline version via Steam before the game is delisted on the shutdown date.
## BACKGROUND
Developed by MiHoYo, BSide: Olivia Lin launched in Steam Early Access in July 2026 as a lightweight AI companion app. The software featured Olivia, a fictional Shanghai college student studying piano and psychology, who could interact with users, reply to letters using AI, and generate music videos from uploaded MIDI files.