HoYoverse's president, Liu Wei, recently revealed the significant impact of harsh player feedback on the Genshin Impact development team. His comments shed light on a challenging year marked by considerable player dissatisfaction.
Genshin Devs Overwhelmed by Negative Feedback
Team Remains Dedicated to Improvement and Player Communication
(c) SentientBamboo In a recent Shanghai event, Liu Wei candidly addressed the "anxiety and confusion" experienced by the Genshin Impact team due to intense criticism. The period surrounding Lunar New Year 2024 and subsequent updates proved particularly turbulent, fueled by growing player discontent.
According to a translated recording by SentientBamboo, Wei described the overwhelming negativity: "Over the past year, the Genshin team and I faced significant anxiety and confusion. We went through extremely difficult times. The volume and intensity of criticism made the entire team feel useless."
This statement follows a string of controversies surrounding recent updates, including the 4.4 Lantern Rite event. The meager rewards (three intertwined fates) sparked widespread disappointment.
Players expressed frustration with perceived inadequate updates compared to titles like Honkai: Star Rail. Negative reviews and backlash ensued. Kuro Games' Wuthering Waves also became a point of comparison, highlighting differences in gameplay and character movement.
Further fueling the discontent was the 4.5 Chronicled Banner's gacha mechanics, viewed unfavorably by many. Concerns also arose regarding the portrayal of characters inspired by real-world cultures, with accusations of "whitewashing" or misrepresentation.
While visibly emotional, Wei acknowledged these concerns: "Some felt our team was arrogant and unresponsive. But we're gamers too; we understand player feelings. The sheer volume of feedback overwhelmed us. We needed to calm down and identify the genuine player concerns."
Despite the challenges, Liu expressed optimism and reaffirmed the team's commitment to improvement and open communication: "We still can't meet every expectation. But the past year, despite the anxiety, also brought us courage and trust from our players. Moving forward, let's focus on creating the best possible experience."
In other news, a preview for the Natlan region was recently released, with its official launch scheduled for August 28th.
