Genshin Impact has once again been accused of cultural appropriation by fans and voice actors alike in response to the reveal of the new cast of Natlan characters.
Each region in Genshin Impact takes heavy inspiration from real-world countries and cultures, basing each region’s overall design, mythology, and music on these different real-world areas. Inazuma is representative of Japan, Fontaine of France, Mondstadt of Germany and the Netherlands, etc.
Based on its character and region names, established mythology, and footage of what the area looks like in the trailer, the upcoming Natlan region looks to take heavy inspiration from places and cultures in both Africa and the Ring of Fire area. The fires surrounding the Pacific Ocean. which includes Latin America and Australian Aboriginal cultures. But fans say this isn’t reflected in Natlan’s character designs, and now the game’s voice actors have joined the criticism via social media.
“I really hope a video game company listens to its fan base when valid criticisms are made over the years about its research execution and inclusion of elements/aspects of other cultures,” Anne said. Yatco, which replaces Raiden Shogun in the game.
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Valeria Rodríguez, who voices Sucrose, shared a similar sentiment: “If you’re going to use real-world deities, RESPECT them. If you’re based on real cultures, RESPECT THAT. I’m fine with things that are inspired by different cultures — that’s great representation is dope.
Rodríguez also compared Genshin Impact’s representation of ồọn, the Yoruba supreme deity, to that seen in the popular MOBA Smite, pointing out the stark contrast of skin tone between the two. “This is inexcusable. Look what a sick job Smite did with their rendition!!! IT’S NOT HARD!!!”
Alejandro Saab, who voices Cyno in Genshin Impact and Jing Yuan in Honkai: Star Rail, echoed Rodríguez’s Smite comparison, adding “You still have time to fix it,” apparently addressing Genshin Impact developer HoYoverse.
Eurogamer has contacted HoYoverse for comment.
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Genshin Impact’s Albedo voice actor, Khoi Dao, also addressed the representation of Đồng: “If a game draws so much from real-world cultures and bases a character on the supreme deity of the Yoruba religion, and that character ends up as Sasuke’s Batman pale, people are absolutely within their rights to demand better representation AS this game has a clear commitment to a *global* audience, I hope you continue to make your voices heard and I hope they are listening.”
This isn’t the first time Genshin Impact has been called out by fans for its extremely light-hearted cast of characters, as the same criticisms have repeatedly been leveled against Sumeru, a nation with heavy South Asian, Middle Eastern and North African influences. . However, this is the first time that so many prominent HoYoverse voice actors have spoken out, which seems to have brought more attention to the issue.
The hashtag ‘BoycottHYV’ has been steadily gaining momentum on X since the reveal of the Natlan character, which fans are using to share their frustrations, petitions and redesigns of their characters. HoYoverse has yet to respond and has continued to post teasers of Natlan’s characters on their social media. The company isn’t known for addressing controversy, but with Chinese players and its voice actors criticizing Natlan’s characters, fans believe the company may be more likely to respond than usual.
Zeno Robinson, who voices Sethos in Genshin Impact, sums up the worldwide dissatisfaction with Natlan’s characters well: “If even your core audience, the Chinese fans, are looking for better representation/or character.[s] with different shades of melanin, who are you making these characters for?”