Genshin Impact It is one of the most successful and popular free-to-play games in the world, so naturally, its user base is very large and diverse. With this in mind, it is not surprising that some fans are not happy with the way some cultures are represented.
He free-to-play is preparing for its next major update, which will introduce a new territory called Natlan. This unreleased region is inspired to some extent by Africa and his culture.
The controversy was sparked when HoYoverse shared a first look at the new characters joining the roster: Ororon, Mavuika and Citlali. Despite their inspirations, they are all white. This situation upset many fans, who demand better representation.
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Genshin Impact fans denounce cultural appropriation and collect thousands of signatures
Shortly after the controversy broke out on forums and networks, a fan created a petition on Change.org with the aim that HoYoverse stop the alleged cultural appropriation. In the description, she argues that the studio takes inspiration from indigenous cultures without representing them appropriately or respectfully.
The author of this request highlights that the characters of the regions Sumeru and Natlan of Genshin Impact They are either white or slightly tanned, and point out that the only exceptions are some NPCs. She argues that cultural appropriation and character whitewashing perpetuate harmful stereotypes and damage the cultural heritage of indigenous communities.
The creator of the petition asks for the community’s support so that HoYoverse, a studio known in its native China as MiHoYotake action on this issue. Specifically, it calls for developers to commit to creating diverse and inclusive characters, review existing in-game content to ensure representation is accurate, and collaborate with Indigenous cultural advisors.
This initiative resonated with many fans of Genshin Impact worldwide. At this time, the Change.org petition gathers 69,914 signatures and little by little it gets closer to its next goal of 75,000. The voice actors involved in dubbing HoYoverse projects spoke out in support of this cause.
“Politely asking to see more accuracy in a portrayed culture is not a ‘forced agenda,’” he commented. Amber Mayvoice actress of Genshin Impact and Honkai Star Railanother free game from the developer studio.
This situation is reminiscent of the case that occurred a couple of weeks ago with Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Users lashed out at the addition of Yasuke arguing that there are no records proving that he was actually a samurai. They claim that Ubisoft is appropriating Japanese culture and showing it no respect.
A group of fans went further, creating a petition and gathering thousands of signatures in an attempt to boycott the release of the upcoming open-world video game. Nearly 90,000 people supported the petition.
But tell us, what do you think about this controversy? Do you think the free-to-play fans of HoYoverse are right? Let us know in the comments.
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