HoYoverse CEO Liu Wei recently revealed the significant impact of negative player feedback on the Genshin Impact development team. This article explores his comments and the challenging period the game has faced.
Genshin Devs Overwhelmed by Negative Fan Feedback
Team Remains Dedicated to Improvement and Player Communication
(c) SentientBamboo In a recent Shanghai event, HoYoverse President Liu Wei discussed the "anxiety and confusion" experienced by the Genshin Impact team due to intense criticism from players over the past year. The period surrounding Lunar New Year 2024 and subsequent updates proved particularly tumultuous.According to a translated recording by SentientBamboo on YouTube, Wei described the impact of harsh feedback: "Over the past year, both the Genshin team and I experienced a lot of anxiety and confusion. We felt we went through some really hard times. The intense criticism made the entire project team feel useless."
These comments follow several controversies surrounding recent Genshin Impact updates, including the 4.4 Lantern Rite event. Player disappointment over the meager rewards (three intertwined fates) fueled negative reviews and backlash.
Many players voiced frustration with updates perceived as lacking compared to other HoYoverse titles like Honkai: Star Rail. Kuro Games' Wuthering Waves also became a point of comparison, with criticism focusing on gameplay and character movement differences.
Further fueling the discontent was Genshin's 4.5 Chronicled Banner, featuring gacha mechanics considered unfavorable by many. The game's overall direction also drew criticism, particularly concerning the portrayal of characters inspired by real-world cultures.
While visibly emotional, Wei acknowledged these concerns: "Some felt our team was arrogant and didn't listen. But we're gamers too, and we understand these feelings. We were overwhelmed by the noise and needed to filter out the genuine concerns of our players."
Despite the difficulties, Liu expressed optimism for the future, reaffirming the team's commitment to improvement and community engagement. "We can't meet every expectation, but the challenges of the past year also brought us courage and trust from our players. Moving forward, I hope the Genshin team and players can leave the past behind and collaborate to create the best possible experience."
In other news, a preview of the Natlan region was recently released, with its official launch scheduled for August 28th.
