Genshin Backlash Cause Devs to Feel Defeated and "Useless"

HoYoverse CEO Liu Wei recently revealed the significant impact of negative player feedback on the Genshin Impact development team. This candid admission sheds light on a challenging year for the game and its creators.

Genshin Impact Developers Overwhelmed by Negative Fan Reaction

Team Remains Dedicated to Improvement and Player Feedback

This statement follows a series of controversies surrounding recent updates, including the 4.4 Lantern Rite event. The meager rewards, specifically the three intertwined fates, sparked widespread disappointment and fueled negative reviews.

The perceived lack of substantial updates, compared to titles like Honkai: Star Rail, further intensified player frustration. Comparisons to Kuro Games' Wuthering Waves, regarding gameplay and character movement, also added to the negative sentiment.

The 4.5 Chronicled Banner's gacha mechanics and concerns about the portrayal of characters inspired by real-world cultures also drew heavy criticism.

While visibly emotional, Wei acknowledged the player concerns: "Some perceived our team as arrogant and unresponsive. But we are gamers too; we understand the frustrations. The sheer volume of feedback made it hard to discern genuine player concerns."

Despite the setbacks, Liu expressed optimism and a renewed commitment to improvement and community engagement: "We know we can't satisfy everyone. But the challenges of the past year also brought courage and trust from our players. Moving forward, let's focus on creating the best possible experience."