Genshin Impact, a popular online RPG game, recently faced a significant backlash from its Chinese player base. The controversy arose after the game’s developers, HoYoverse, announced modest rewards for the Lantern Rite Festival, a significant event celebrating the Chinese New Year. This decision was met with disappointment from players, especially in China, where the event is of great cultural importance.
Backlash Over Lantern Rite Festival Rewards in Genshin Impact
The dissatisfaction among players was evident as the game’s official Douyin (Chinese version of TikTok) account experienced a massive loss of over one million followers in just one day, a drop from approximately 9.6 million to around 8 million. Similar declines in followers were observed on other social media platforms associated with Genshin Impact.
Players compared the rewards offered for the Chinese New Year event unfavorably with those given in other regions and to rewards in HoYoverse’s other games. This perceived imbalance led to accusations of global favoritism and a lack of appreciation for the Chinese audience. In response to the underwhelming rewards, players not only unfollowed Genshin Impact’s social media accounts but also targeted affiliated brands like KFC, Hey Tea, and Pizza Hut.
Amidst the outcry, allegations surfaced that HoYoverse was using bot accounts to artificially maintain follower counts on platforms like BiliBili, a major Chinese video-sharing website. This further fueled the discontent among the player community.
This situation has also sparked debates among players about the game’s reward system. While some argue that the response is an overreaction, others support the dissatisfaction, pointing to long-standing frustrations with HoYoverse. The controversy has extended to other social media platforms, with players expressing their disappointment and calling for better rewards.
HoYoverse issued an apology and promised to reassess and adjust the rewards. The situation underscored the challenges game developers face in balancing the expectations and cultural sensitivities of a diverse global audience.
As the debate continues, the future of Genshin Impact in the Chinese market depends on HoYoverse’s handling of this crisis and its ability to respond effectively to the concerns of its players.
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(Via)
