Genshin Backlash Cause Devs to Feel Defeated and \"Useless\"

HoYoverse's president, Liu Wei, recently revealed the significant impact of negative player feedback on the Genshin Impact development team. This article delves into his comments and the challenging period the game has faced.

Genshin Devs' Feelings of Defeat and Incompetence Following Persistent Negative Fan Response

Team Remains Dedicated to Genshin's Improvement and Player Feedback

(c) SentientBamboo Liu Wei, HoYoverse's president, candidly discussed the "anxiety and uncertainty" that intense criticism from Genshin Impact players has caused the development team over the past year. Speaking at a Shanghai event, Wei addressed the growing player dissatisfaction, particularly following the Lunar New Year 2024 updates.

In a speech recorded and translated by SentientBamboo on YouTube, Liu described the profound impact of the negative feedback. He stated, "Over the past year, both the Genshin team and I experienced significant anxiety and uncertainty. We faced truly difficult times. The volume and intensity of criticism made the entire team feel utterly useless."

Wei's comments followed several controversies surrounding recent Genshin Impact updates, including the 4.4 Lantern Rite event. Players were disappointed with the meager rewards, especially the three intertwined fates, which were perceived as insufficient and underwhelming.

Many players expressed frustration over a perceived lack of substantial updates compared to other HoYoverse titles like Honkai: Star Rail, resulting in a wave of negative reviews and backlash. Kuro Games' Wuthering Waves also fueled the criticism, with comparisons highlighting differences in gameplay and character movement.

Further exacerbating the situation was Genshin's 4.5 Chronicled Banner, featuring gacha mechanics deemed unfavorable compared to traditional Event Banners. The game's overall direction also faced criticism, particularly regarding the portrayal of characters inspired by real-world cultures, with accusations of "whitewashing" or misrepresentation.

While visibly emotional, Wei acknowledged these concerns. He said, "Some felt our team was arrogant and unresponsive. But, as Aquaria mentioned, we're gamers too. We understand these feelings. We were overwhelmed by the noise and needed to filter out the genuine player feedback."

Despite the challenges, Liu expressed optimism for the future, reaffirming the team's commitment to improving the game and engaging with the player community. He stated, "We may not meet every expectation, but the past year's challenges have also instilled courage and trust. Moving forward, I hope the Genshin team and players can leave the past behind and collaboratively create the best possible experience."

In other news, a preview for the Natlan region was recently released, showcasing the upcoming area. Natlan's release is scheduled for August 28th.