Cultural Appropriation
As Hoyoverse continues to pull inspiration from real-world cultures, there’s been an ongoing conversation on whether they’re getting it right – or missing the mark entirely. When it comes to handling these cultural influences, especially outside of their home base in China, they’ve faced some major criticism.
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Take Liyue, for example – a region heavily inspired by Chinese culture. When Zhongli, the Liyue Archon, was first introduced, many Chinese players felt his powers didn’t reflect the strength they expected from a god representing their culture. After strong feedback from the community, Hoyoverse quickly responded with buffs, creating a precedent for player-driven changes.
Post-buff Pre-buff
But things didn’t go as smoothly when Sumeru – based on South Asian and Middle Eastern cultures – was released. Many fans were eager to see more diverse skin tones in the game, especially with the introduction of Cyno and Dehya, the latter being the darkest 5-star character to date.
However, despite her popularity, fans were disappointed with her underwhelming abilities, and unlike Zhongli, Dehya’s kit received no improvements. This left some players wondering: does Hoyoverse listen only to its Chinese audience?
And then there’s Natlan – drawing from African, Polynesian, and pre-Columbian Latin American cultures. This region had high hopes pinned on it for better representation, yet it introduced only a single dark-skinned character who isn’t even playable (yet). Even more problematic? Some characters incorporate symbols and stereotypes with colonial roots. Take Ororon, a character named after a Yoruba god. Games like Smite managed to respectfully portray similar figures, so why not here?
Olorun - Depicted by Smite
Ororon - Depicted by Genshin Impact
Then there’s Mualani, who stirred controversy with her maraca accessory – which has no connection to traditional Hawaiian dance and is apparently an offensive stereotype to Hawaiians.
The controversy: The dance in question:
When Hoyoverse responded with "it’s just fantasy," many felt this excuse missed the mark. If you’re pulling from real-world cultures, a little accuracy and respect go a long way.
So...
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Here are a few ways Hoyoverse could step up:
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1. Involve cultural consultants
Right now, they bring in cultural experts primarily for music, which is largely applauded and praised by the player base. If they extended to character designs as well to ensure accuracy and respect. This approach has been effective in games like 'Ghost of Tsushima,' which was widely praised for cultural respect and accuracy.
2. Avoid Colonial Symbols
When working with cultural references, it’s best to keep clear of symbols with colonialist roots.
3. Include playable characters with diverse skin tones
If you’re taking from a culture, why not represent it fully by including darker-skinned characters in the main cast?
Ensuring appropriate representation is not a tricky obstacle to overcome, but does need a delicate, multifaceted approach. Genshin Impact developers should address the complaints of their players and make their game more diverse and inclusive.