Genshin Impact Cultural Appropriation Controversy Is Pathetic

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Obaid Ur Rehman

At HI Digital I test and write about different hardware configurations to show other PC users what they can expect from their build. My end goal is to educate the masses to make the right decision when they are looking for new PC parts to buy

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Genshin Impact is one of the most famous live service games on the market. Famous for its story, characters, and open world, this title is one of the most prominent in the mobile gaming industry.

Hoyoverse constantly releases new characters to improve the experience, but the studio’s latest introduction has led to a controversy that has been hard to ignore. You might have noticed that most of the game’s characters are of fair color.

However, many people are frustrated and believe that there should be more main characters with black skin tones. This has led to a controversy that recently spiralled out of control.

Why it matters: Genshin Impact is a work of fiction, and from its toe to head, everything is derived from fiction, so such arguments don’t hold well.

The Cultural Appropriation Controversy

The controversy started as soon as the Natlan characters were introduced. I suppose many hoped the upcoming Pyro Archon in Natlan would be black since they belong to a region inspired by Africa. However, people set these expectations for themselves.

Genshin Impact was released in 2020, so it has been almost four years since its release. So, why has the controversy just started now? The title has received many updates and tons of new characters with white skin tones, so why are people upset all of a sudden?

So many people are joining this controversy, trying to force Hoyoverse to add some black characters. The cultural appropriation controversy seems like a waste of time and shouldn’t even exist in the first place, especially in a game that is completely a work of fiction.

‘Genshin Impact’ Voice Actors Accuse Game Of "Racism And Cultural Appropriation" Over Design Of Newly Introduced Natlan Characters
byu/Sliver80 inKotakuInAction

Also, it seems like this controversy was driven by none other than the game’s voice actors. First of all, Genshin Impact is filled with Asian characters since the game is being made in China and has different customs.

There is a whole place known for its Japanese culture; hence, it has Japanese people residing there. However, calling the game whitewashed seems unfair to me. Why are Asians being seen as white people now?

Asians are a completely different race, and they are not white people just because they have fair skin tones. This is why I don’t understand the point behind this whole controversy.

The Unreasonable Petition 

The unreasonably furious gamers have gone as far as making a petition for Hoyoverse to stop with the cultural appropriation and whitewashing. There are currently over 90K signatures, which is a massive number for such a pathetic controversy.

The people argue that MiHoYo does not properly represent cultures and is unfair and rude. They highlight Sumeru and Natlan the most, but these areas are completely fictional. I know that MiHoYo draws inspiration from existing or old cultures, and I think it does a good job of doing so.

There are many different hints of culture being part of a region. However, the petition demands that the company collaborate with cultural experts so it can better incorporate the culture and pledge to add more diverse characters.

The petitioners believe these steps are important since they will improve representation. 

The Double Standards

This whole controversy reeks of double standards in the gaming industry to me. Tons of people have gathered to criticize Hoyoverse for adding more white main characters in the game that are totally fictional.

It doesn’t matter if the game adds the proper culture or not, as Natlan isn’t a real place in the actual world. However, these people seem to have forgotten that it is not even appropriate to ask Hoyoverse to make such changes.

Meanwhile, the same people are defending games like Assassin’s Creed Shadows. This game has become similarly controversial, with many facts proving that Yasuke was never an actual samurai.

In response, many people are saying that the game is fictional and that you shouldn’t focus on such details.

Many have said that games are meant to be enjoyed, so focusing on such things isn’t worth it. Why is Genshin Impact not held to the same standard? Genshin Impact is more rooted in fiction than Assassin’s Creed Shadows at the end of the day.

The latter sees Ubisoft trying to replicate history in many ways. However, many people have criticized the developer, as the story has been altered in many ways.

Obaid Ur Rehman

[How-To Guides Expert]

Laiba, our tech guru at HI Digital, simplifies and crafts How-To Guides with a Google IT Support Certificate. Beyond tech, she captures the city’s aesthetics through her lens. Join her journey where tech meets creativity!

Get In Touch: Laiba@hidgt.com