Genshin Impact is facing accusations of cultural appropriation following the recent reveal of its Natlan character lineup. This criticism, voiced by fans and in-game voice actors, concerns the accuracy and respectfulness of the game’s representation of various real-world cultures.
Each region in Genshin Impact is heavily inspired by actual countries and cultures, reflecting their design, mythology, and music. For instance, Inazuma mirrors Japan, Fontaine is reminiscent of France, and Mondstadt combines elements from Germany and the Netherlands, among others.
Natlan’s Cultural Representations and Fan Concerns
Natlan, the new region, appears to draw inspiration from cultures in the Ring of Fire area around the Pacific Ocean, including Latin American, African, and Aboriginal Australian influences. However, fans argue that the character designs do not adequately reflect these sources of inspiration. This sentiment has also been echoed by the game’s voice actors on social media.
“I really hope that a video game company listens to its fanbase when valid criticism is made multiple years in a row about the execution of its research and inclusion of elements/aspects of other cultures,” stated Anne Yatco, the voice of Raiden Shogun in the game.
I didn’t know THATS who he’s based on… AH that’s bad.
You still got time to fix it 👀 https://t.co/zH9UGI5u0g
— Alejandro Saab = Akihiko 🔫 (@KaggyFilms) July 13, 2024
Voice Actors Speak Out
Valeria Rodríguez, who voices Sucrose, expressed a similar view: “If you’re going to use real-world deities, RESPECT them. If you’re basing off of real cultures, RESPECT THAT. I’m fine with things being inspired by various cultures – that’s awesome. Representation is dope. But bare minimum do some research and show some cultural appreciation.”
Rodríguez compared Genshin Impact’s depiction of Ọlọrun, the supreme Yoruba deity, to that in the popular MOBA game Smite, highlighting differences in skin color between the representations and calling the portrayal in Genshin Impact “unforgivable.”
Alejandro Saab, voice of Cyno in Genshin Impact and Jing Yuan in Honkai: Star Rail, retweeted Rodríguez’s comparison, suggesting that the developer, HoYoverse, “still got time to fix it.”
Previous Criticisms and Current Reactions
Khoi Dao, the voice of Albedo, also addressed the representation of Ọlọrun: “If a game draws so heavily from real-world cultures, and bases a character on the supreme deity of Yoruba religion, and that character ends up looking like pale sasuke Batman, people are absolutely within their rights to demand better representation, ESPECIALLY when said game has a clearly-stated commitment to a *global* audience.”
This is not the first time Genshin Impact has faced criticism for its depiction of characters inspired by various cultures. Similar issues were raised regarding the Sumeru nation, which draws on South Asian, Middle Eastern, and North African cultures.
The Boycott Movement
Since the reveal of Natlan characters, the hashtag ‘BoycottHYV’ has gained traction on social media platform X, where fans share their frustrations, petitions, and proposed character redesigns. While HoYoverse has not yet responded to these criticisms, the company continues to release Natlan character teasers on their social media channels. Historically, HoYoverse has seldom addressed controversies, but the combined outcry from Chinese players and voice actors might prompt an official response.
Zeno Robinson, the voice of Sethos in Genshin Impact, summarized the widespread dissatisfaction: “If even your base audience, the Chinese fans, are asking for better representation/or character[s] with different shades of melanin, who are you making these characters for?”
Wrapping Up
It’s deeply disappointing to witness Genshin Impact’s persistent colorism, especially when the game appropriates various world cultures without a genuine commitment to diversity. Despite its immense popularity and a diverse global audience, the game continues to feature a predominantly light-skinned cast. This inconsistency undermines the authenticity of its international setting and disrespects the very cultures it seeks to represent. The introduction of the Natlan region, inspired by Latin American, Polynesian, and African cultures, further highlights this issue, as the characters revealed so far fail to reflect the rich diversity of these inspirations.
