Genshin Backlash Cause Devs to Feel Defeated and \"Useless\"

HoYoverse CEO Liu Wei's Emotional Plea After Genshin Impact Backlash

Harsh fan feedback has taken a significant toll on the Genshin Impact development team, leading HoYoverse president Liu Wei to publicly express the team's feelings of defeat and "uselessness." Wei's comments, shared at a recent Shanghai event and translated by SentientBamboo on YouTube, reveal the emotional impact of intense criticism following a period of growing player dissatisfaction, particularly around the Lunar New Year 2024 and subsequent updates.

Wei described the team's experience as one of "anxiety and confusion," highlighting the sharp criticism that left developers feeling demoralized. This negative feedback stemmed from several controversies, including the 4.4 Lantern Rite event's underwhelming rewards (only three intertwined fates), perceived lackluster updates compared to Honkai: Star Rail, unfavorable gacha mechanics in the 4.5 Chronicled Banner, and accusations of cultural misrepresentation in character designs.

Despite the emotional weight of the situation, Wei acknowledged player concerns, refuting accusations of developer arrogance and emphasizing the team's shared gamer identity. He stressed the need to filter out excessive negativity and focus on constructive feedback. While acknowledging the team hasn't met all expectations, he expressed hope for the future, emphasizing the team's commitment to improvement and active listening.

Wei concluded by calling for a collective move forward, urging both the development team and players to let go of past grievances and work together to create a better experience.

The announcement follows the recent preview of Natlan, the upcoming game region launching on August 28th.