Genshin Impact has just recently released Version 4.8 gearing it to be the last patch update to conclude Fontaine. The next region, Natlan, has been highly anticipated as it has been under wraps that not even leakers can figure out the line-up of playable characters and what’s to come. With that in mind, Genshin Impact released two teasers to highlight what to expect in the upcoming region. Although the fan reception has not been well received. As such, Genshin Impact is currently facing criticism due to Natlan.
With the recently released teaser of Natlan, Genshin Impact is facing more accusations of cultural appropriation and whitewashing. The game’s ever-expanding world of Teyvat features stories and locations seemingly inspired by real-world cultures, drawing from geography, architecture, mythology, music, food, and history. Natlan is inspired by Aztec, Mayan, North African, Indigenous, and Latin cultures. Yet there is blatant whitewashing and cultural appropriation done within the characters shown in the teaser.
The community’s criticism stems from what many feel is a failure to accurately represent the cultures each character pulls from, including the fact that Mavukia, Kinich, and Ororon — inspired by real-life deities like the Maori’s Mahuika are all white. This continues a trend in Genshin Impact, with players asking for proper representation, voicing out their criticism for Natlan just like during Sumeru.
Genshin Impact’s English Voice Actors have raised their Voices as Well
Some of the game’s voice actors have begun to chime in. Khoi Dao, who voices Albedo, published a statement on X/Twitter calling for change, emphasizing the importance of better representation for a global audience.
Zeno Robinson, the voice of Sethos, also criticized HoYoverse, highlighting a worldwide desire for more diverse characters. He pointed out, “If even your base audience, the Chinese fans, are asking for better representation/or characters with different shades of melanin, who are you making these characters for?”.
Sucrose’s VA, Valeria Rodríguez added their voice to the growing chorus, pointing out discrepancies in the portrayal of deities and characters.
They also pointed out the discrepancies in the portrayal of deities and characters. Rodríguez compared Olorun’s appearance in Titan Forge Games’ MOBA title, Smite, to their appearance in Genshin Impact, saying, “Look at what a sick job SMITE did with their interpretation!!! IT’S NOT HARD!!!”
Fan communities has creates Petition for a better representation
The backlash has been intensified by a new petition calling for improved representation in Genshin Impact, which has gathered over 65,000 signatures and counting. Created after the reveal of the first three Natlan characters, the petition has gained traction following additional character reveals.
The game’s lack of diverse representation, especially given its inspiration from Africa and Indigenous America, has sparked accusations of whitewashing and cultural appropriation. Fans have criticized the game for its predominantly white ensemble of characters, pointing out that out of nearly 90 playable characters, only five have darker skin tones, with some considered whitewashed.
You can join in the petition by going here if you want to contribute to the cause.
Pyro Archon’s skin color could be related to Murata Himeko from HI3
The revealed characters from the Natlan area in Genshin Impact indeed have predominantly white-skinned designs, which has sparked discussion about cultural diversity representation in the game. While the Pyro Archon’s design speculation drawing inspiration from Honkai Impact 3rd‘s Murata Himeko could be seen as a tribute to a beloved character, it doesn’t fully address the broader theme of cultural authenticity and representation in Natlan.
The concern remains whether these character designs align with the expected diversity and cultural richness of the Natlan region. This issue could potentially impact player perception and immersion into a world that prides itself on intricate lore and cultural depth.
Callback to Sumeru and Colorism
The issue is not new, with accusations of the lack of representation dating back to the release of Sumeru in 2022. The criticism, which had quieted with the release of Fontaine, has resurfaced with the Natlan reveal.
The community’s discontent is increased mostly by the portrayal of darker-skinned characters as enemies, raising concerns about the underlying colorism HoYoverse still has. Despite Genshin Impact’s large player base in Asian countries, the global reach of the game makes the lack of diverse characters more glaring.
The adaptation of Ọlọrun into Ororon, perceived as cultural appropriation, is not the only issue. Out of the nine new Natlan characters revealed, only one, Iansan, has darker skin. Even so, many players feel Iansan’s skin tone doesn’t go far enough, especially as she is the only POC character. Over nearly four years, Genshin Impact has boasted a large absence of black and darker-skinned characters.
Final Thoughts
With the petition gaining momentum and calls to boycott HoYoverse growing, the company may face significant challenges when Natlan is released. The Nation of Natlan is expected to arrive in late August if there are no delays. This gives the company some time to address the issues and listen to its global community’s pleas for better representation.
HoYoverse has shown that they can very well design people of color, as demonstrated by some of the Eremites and Natlan enemies. However, the lack of such characters and their frequent portrayal as enemies raise concerns about how the company views people of color. The global reach of Genshin Impact means there is no excuse not to create characters with varied skin tones.
Check our other articles on Genshin Impact below:
- How HoYoverse’s favoritism towards Honkai: Star Rail is influencing Genshin Impact
- How Genshin Impact treats the male characters
- The State of 4-star characters in Genshin Impact
- Genshin Impact vs Tower of Fantasy: Is ToF really the Genshin Killer
What are your thoughts on the Genshin Impact Criticism on Natlan? Let us know in the comments below.
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