HoYoverse Addresses Genshin Impact Backlash and Developer Struggles

HoYoverse President Liu Wei recently discussed the emotional toll that intense fan criticism has taken on the Genshin Impact development team over the past year. Continue reading for insights into his remarks and the challenges the game has faced.

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(c) SentientBamboo

At a recent event in Shanghai, HoYoverse President Liu Wei candidly shared the "anxiety and uncertainty" felt by the Genshin Impact team due to persistent fan backlash. His comments followed a turbulent period marked by growing player dissatisfaction, particularly around the 2024 Lunar New Year and subsequent game updates.

In a speech recorded and translated by the YouTube channel SentientBamboo, Liu revealed the deep impact of fan criticism on the team. "This past year, both the Genshin team and I faced significant anxiety and uncertainty," he said. "We went through some truly challenging times. The sharp criticism we received left our entire team feeling utterly discouraged."

Liu’s remarks came after controversies surrounding Genshin Impact’s recent updates, notably the 4.4 Lantern Rite event. Players expressed disappointment over the event’s rewards, particularly receiving only three intertwined fates, which many deemed underwhelming and insufficient.

Fan frustration grew as players compared Genshin Impact unfavorably to other HoYoverse titles like Honkai: Star Rail, leading to a surge of negative reviews and online backlash. Additionally, Kuro Games’ Wuthering Waves sparked further debate, with fans critiquing differences in gameplay and character movement mechanics between the two titles.

Tensions escalated with the 4.5 Chronicled Banner, where gacha mechanics drew criticism for being less favorable than traditional Event Banners. Some players also voiced concerns over the game’s direction, alleging that characters inspired by real-world cultures were misrepresented or oversimplified.

Visibly moved during his speech, Liu addressed these concerns directly. "Some believe our team is arrogant and dismissive of feedback," he said. "But as [presenter] Aquaria noted, we’re gamers too, just like you. We feel the same emotions. The overwhelming criticism was hard to process, and we needed time to focus and hear the true voices of our players."

Despite these challenges, Liu remained optimistic about Genshin Impact’s future, reaffirming the team’s commitment to improving the game and responding to its community. "We know we can’t meet everyone’s expectations yet," he said. "But after this year of anxiety and uncertainty, the courage and trust from our players have inspired us. Moving forward, I hope the Genshin team and players can leave the past behind and work together to create the best experience possible."

In related news, a teaser for Genshin Impact’s upcoming Natlan region was recently shared on the game’s official account, offering a first glimpse of the new area. Natlan is set to launch on August 28.