- A petition for better representation in Genshin Impact’s Natlan characters has surpassed 75,000 signatures.
- Natlan characters, which were criticized for predominantly white appearances despite the region being inspired by African and South American cultures.
- The game developer, HoYoverse, faces accusations of whitewashing and cultural appropriation.
A recent petition from Change.org aimed at improving representation in Genshin Impact has garnered significant attention, surpassing 75,000 signatures. The petition was initiated in response to the reveal of characters from Natlan, a region inspired by African and South American cultures, but criticized for its predominantly white ensemble of characters.
This controversy has sparked widespread discussions within the community, calling out HoYoverse for whitewashing and cultural appropriation.
Petition Details and Community Backlash
The petition emerged shortly after the teaser trailer for Version 4.8, which introduced the first three characters from Natlan: Kachina, Kinich, and Mualani. Following the trailer, the community’s dissatisfaction grew, with many fans sharing the petition to express their disappointment with HoYoverse’s portrayal of these characters.
The game’s developer has been accused of failing to create diverse and inclusive characters, a criticism that extends back to previous regions like Sumeru.
Voice Actors and Content Creators Speak Out
Prominent figures within the Genshin Impact community, including voice actors and content creators, have voiced their concerns. Valeria Rodríguez, the voice actor for Sucrose, emphasized the need for respect towards the cultural sources of inspiration. Khoi Dao, who voices Albedo, criticized the portrayal of characters based on real-world deities, pointing out the inappropriate skin tones assigned to these characters.
Content creators like Kokonata have also spoken out, with some even switching to free-to-play modes in protest.
This is not the first time Genshin Impact has faced backlash for its lack of representation. The Sumeru region, inspired by South Asian and Middle Eastern cultures, was also criticized for its predominantly light-skinned characters.
Out of nearly 90 playable characters, only a handful have darker skin tones, and even those have been accused of being whitewashed. This issue reflects a broader pattern of underrepresentation within the game.
Genshin Impact Player Count and Statistics
Genshin Impact is a home of more than 600k daily active players in the game world. You can check out our detailed analysis on statistics page. Our article provides comprehensive data on the game’s player count, trends, and other relevant metrics, offering a deeper understanding of Genshin Impact’s popularity and growth.
