HoYoverse President Liu Wei's Emotional Plea: Genshin Impact's Response to Player Backlash
HoYoverse's president, Liu Wei, recently shared the Genshin Impact development team's struggles amidst a year of intense criticism from players. His candid remarks, captured and translated by SentientBamboo on YouTube, revealed the team's feelings of defeat and inadequacy in the face of overwhelmingly negative feedback, particularly following the Lunar New Year 2024 updates.
Wei described the period as one of "anxiety and confusion," highlighting the impact of harsh criticism on team morale. He acknowledged the perception of arrogance within the team, stating, "Some people felt that our project team was really arrogant, saying that they don’t listen to anything," but countered that the team is comprised of gamers who understand player sentiment. The sheer volume of negative feedback, however, overwhelmed the team, obscuring constructive criticism.
This challenging period followed several controversial updates, including the 4.4 Lantern Rite event's underwhelming rewards (three intertwined fates) and the 4.5 Chronicled Banner's unpopular gacha mechanics. Comparisons to other HoYoverse titles like Honkai: Star Rail, and even Kuro Games' Wuthering Waves, further fueled the discontent, with criticisms focusing on updates perceived as insufficient and character representation concerns.
Despite the emotional toll, Wei expressed a commitment to improvement and listening to the player base. He acknowledged that meeting every expectation remains a challenge but emphasized the team's renewed resolve, stating, "I hope that the entire Genshin team along with all the Genshin players can stop weighing on their pasts and whole-heartedly create the best experience."
The upcoming Natlan region, slated for release on August 28th, offers a glimpse of the team's ongoing efforts. The preview teaser suggests continued development and a commitment to delivering new content.
