Impactful Genshin Outcry Deflates Devs' Morale

HoYoverse's Genshin Impact: A Year of Backlash and Developer Reflection

HoYoverse president Liu Wei recently revealed the significant impact of negative player feedback on the Genshin Impact development team. His candid remarks, shared at a Shanghai event and translated by SentientBamboo on YouTube, detailed a period of intense "anxiety and confusion" following a surge of player dissatisfaction, particularly around the Lunar New Year 2024 updates.

Wei described the overwhelming criticism as causing the team to feel "useless," highlighting the emotional toll of the intense negative reaction. This followed several controversies, including underwhelming rewards in the 4.4 Lantern Rite event, perceived stagnation compared to titles like Honkai: Star Rail, and comparisons with Kuro Games' Wuthering Waves. Further fueling the discontent were criticisms surrounding the 4.5 Chronicled Banner's gacha mechanics and accusations of cultural misrepresentation in character designs.

Despite the visible emotional strain evident in his address, Wei acknowledged player concerns, emphasizing the team's shared gamer identity and the need to filter constructive feedback from overwhelming negativity. He affirmed the team's commitment to improvement and listening to player feedback, expressing hope for a future where the community and developers can collaboratively create a better gaming experience. This commitment comes as the highly anticipated Natlan region is set for release on August 28th, as previewed in a recent official teaser. The future of Genshin Impact, it seems, hinges on successfully navigating this period of intense scrutiny and rebuilding trust with its player base.