Genshin Impact takes place in thefantasy world of Teyvat, home to seven nations, each of which is tied to a different element and ruled by a different god called an "Archon". The story follows the Traveler, aninterstellar adventurer who, at the start of the game, is separated from their twin sibling after the two land in Teyvat. Thereafter, the Traveler journeys across the nations of Teyvat in search of the lost sibling, accompanied by their guide,Paimon. Along the way, the two befriend myriad individuals, become involved in the affairs of its nations, and begin to unravel the mysteries of the land.
Development began in 2017 and takes inspiration from a variety of sources, includingThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild,anime,Gnosticism, and an array ofcultures andworld mythologies.Genshin Impact has received generally positive reviews, with critics writing approving of its combat mechanics and its immersive open world. Conversely, some criticism has been directed at its simplistic endgame and itsgacha-based monetization model. The game has also been subjected to controversy over censorship of content related to Chinese politics, allegations of colorism in character design, and privacy and security concerns.
Gameplay
The player may freely explore anopen-world map. Here Aether, the male Traveler, is seen gliding, but the player can switch to other party members.
Genshin Impact is anopen-world,action role-playing game that allows the player to control one of four interchangeable characters in aparty.[4] Switching between characters can be done quickly during combat, allowing the player to use several different combinations of skills and attacks.[5] Characters may have their abilities enhanced in various ways, mainly through directly leveling them up and improving the artifacts and weapons that a character can equip.[6] In addition to exploration, the player can attempt various challenges for rewards. Scattered across Teyvat are bosses and challenges that reward highly valuable resources, but claiming them uses up a currency called Original Resin, which slowly regenerates over time.[7] Completing these challenges grants the player progress towards increasing their Adventure Rank, which in turnunlocks newquests, challenges, and raises the World Level.[8] The World Level is a measure of how strong the enemies within the world are and the rarity of rewards that defeating them gives.[9]
The player can control their character and perform actions such as running, climbing, swimming, and gliding, all limited by stamina.[10][5] Some characters possess abilities that can alter the environment, such as freezing water to create an ice path that can aid the player in traversing terrain.[5] Many teleportation points exist throughout the world that players canwarp to as a form offast travel; among these are landmarks known as Statues of The Seven that can heal and revive characters, and provide benefits such as increasing player stamina.[11]Items such as food and ore may be procured from the open world, while enemies and treasure chests drop other types of resources that may be used in enhancing a character's strength. Players can obtain food from hunting animals, gathering fruit and vegetables, or purchasing them from in-game shops. Furthermore, there are special battle instances called "Domains" that reward materials which increase character and weapon strength.[12] Meals cooked from ingredients gathered in theoverworld may also provide desirable effects, such as regenerating characters'health or boosting variousstats.[13] Players can also procure ore that can be refined and then used to create weapons or enhance their strength.[14][15]
Amultiplayer mode is available in the form ofco-op. Up to four players can play together in theoverworld and join Domains.[16] Player matching can either be done by requesting to connect with another player, or through an automatic search.[16][17] The game featurescross-platform play, so players on any platform can play with each other.[18]
By completing certain quests or by participating in select limited-time events, the player can unlock additionalplayable characters.[19] Most characters, however, are obtained through thecharacter banners of the game'sgacha system, called "Wishes".[20][21] An ingame currency called "Primogems" is required, obtainable throughin-app purchases or as gameplay rewards, it is required topull on the game's banners.[22] Apity system guarantees that the player will receive rare items after a set number of pulls.[23]
Elemental combat
Elements react with each other to produce different effects. Here, Pyro and Electro produce Overloaded, creating anAoE explosion.
Playable characters have control over one of seven naturalelements: Anemo (air), Geo (earth), Pyro (fire), Hydro (water), Cryo (ice), Electro (electricity), and Dendro (plants).[24] When these elements react with one another, they produce various effects. For instance, if a Hydro attack hits a target, the enemy will be inflicted with the "Wet"status effect, and if they are hit with a subsequent Cryo attack, these two status effects combine to freeze the opponent, temporarily preventing them from performing any actions.[24]
Each character also has two unique combat abilities: an "Elemental Skill" and an "Elemental Burst". Elemental Skills are attacks with a setcooldown that can be used at any time, while Elemental Bursts areultimate attacks with an energy cost.[25] These require the player to amass sufficient elemental energy in order to use them.[26][24] Manipulating the game's elements through the Skills and Bursts of a given party's four characters to produce various reactions is a core feature of its gameplay.[27] Certain elemental abilities are also required to solve puzzles within theoverworld.[5]
A tabletop-basedcollectible card game calledGenius Invokation TCG was released in the game's Version 3.3 update in December 2022 as an additional optional gamemode.[28][29] The game usesturn-based battles. Equipped with a deck of three characters and 30 supporting cards, players win by knocking down all the opponent's competing character cards. Each round requires adice roll that forces the player to use their cards within the limitations of their roll.[30] Similar to the main game, elemental reactions are included as a mechanic of the gamemode.[31] Players are able to challengeNPCs, playable characters, and other real players inco-op mode.[32] In-game rewards are granted for participating inGenius Invokation TCG.
Miliastra Wonderland
Asandbox andgame creation gameplay system calledMiliastra Wonderland was released in the game's Luna II update in October 2025. The system lets players create and share their work using an array of assets, terrain, and enemies already withinGenshin Impact.[33]
Genshin Impact takes place in the world of Teyvat, composed of seven majornations, each of which is ruled by a god called an "Archon" and tied to a differentelement andideal.[34] Additionally, thefloating island of Celestia hangs above Teyvat, allegedly home to thegods, as well as mortals who have ascended to godhood.[35] Underground lies the ruins of Khaenri'ah, a mysterious nation which was destroyed by Celestia 500 years before the main events of the game.[36][37]
Regardless of which nation they hail from, individuals who have great ambitions may be granted a Vision, a magicalgemstone that allows them to control a specific element and gives them the potential to ascend to godhood and reside in Celestia.[38][39] Others may achieve elemental manipulation through Delusions, artificial Visions made from the remains of powerful gods which allow their bearers to control elements by feeding off theirvitality,[40] or Moon Wheels, Vision-like objects exclusive to Nod-Krai that were created by the Three Moons. Archons, on the other hand, possess aGnosis, which is a device similar to a Vision that affirms their authority as an Archon and allows them to "resonate" with Celestia.[41]
Theprotagonists are the Traveler andPaimon, the Traveler's guide and companion. The Traveler and theirtwin sibling travel across worlds in the universe before being separated in Teyvat, forcing the Traveler to go on a journey to find them.[42] The player may choose to play as either Aether (the brother) or Lumine (the sister), though their account username is used throughout most of the game.
The primaryantagonists are the Abyss Order, a legion of monsters made up of corrupted Khaenri'ahns who seek to overthrow the rule of the Archons/The Heavenly Principles,[43][44] and the Fatui, a military force and delegation of diplomats from Snezhnaya who pursue anaggressive foreign policy throughout Teyvat and who also seek to overthrow the Heavenly Principles.[45][46][47] The Traveler's twin is the leader of the Abyss Order,[48] while the Fatui are led by the Eleven Harbingers, the powerful lieutenants of the Tsaritsa who have been given special authority to carry out her will.[46] Both factions seek to overthrow the Heavenly Principles.
Plot
A pair of interworld-traveling twins, Aether and Lumine, arrive in Teyvat just as Khaenri'ah collapses. A mysterious god calling herself the "Sustainer of Heavenly Principles" attacks, separates them, and seals the playable twin for five centuries. When the Traveler awakens, they rescuePaimon, who becomes their guide as they begin searching for their lost sibling.
Their journey begins in Mondstadt, where the corrupted dragon Stormterror threatens the city. With the Knights of Favonius and the bard Venti — secretly the Anemo Archon Barbatos — the Traveler purifies the dragon, only for La Signora of the Fatui to steal Venti's Gnosis. Following his advice, they travel toLiyue to witness Geo Archon Rex Lapis's annual rite, but he instead appears to have been assassinated. With the help ofZhongli and Tartaglia, the Traveler uncovers a Fatui scheme: Tartaglia provokes chaos to seize the Geo Gnosis, even summoning the ancient god Osial. After the crisis, Zhongli reveals he was Rex Lapis all along and has retired after exchanging his Gnosis with the Tsaritsa.
Back in Mondstadt, the Traveler meets a man named Dainsleif and discovers their twin now leads the Abyss Order. Refusing to reunite, the twin disappears, leaving only more questions. The Traveler then journeys toInazuma, a nation locked down under theRaiden Shogun'sSakoku Decree. They face the Shogun, join the resistance, and ultimately confront Signora and Raiden Ei herself, ending the oppressive decree and learning of deeper Fatui involvement.
Sumeru reveals another coup: the governing Akademiya, aided by the Fatui Harbinger Il Dottore, attempts to turnScaramouche into a god. WithNahida's help, the Traveler stops the plot, enters the world tree Irminsul, and witnesses the erasure of Greater Lord Rukkhadevata's existence from Teyvat. Dottore later bargains away the Dendro and Electro Gnoses, leaving the Traveler with unsettling truths about Celestia and their sibling.
InFontaine, they unravel a prophecy foretelling the nation's demise via a flood, expose the truth behindFurina and Focalors' divided existence, and witnessNeuvillette reclaim his power as Hydro Sovereign. He directs them towardNatlan, where a looming Abyss threat, ancient warriors, and the Traveler’s evolving connection to their sibling push events toward a new conflict — one tied to the origins of Teyvat, the fate of the Sinner Lords, and the Traveler’s own arrival in this world.
In Nod-Krai, the Traveler's group pursues the Moon Marrow and learns the Wild Hunt serves Rerir, a dangerous Sinner from Khaenri'ah trying to regain form after being split into pieces. After battles, illusions, and alliances with Columbina,Arlecchino, and Varka, they outmaneuver Rerir, trap him through memory manipulation, and finally banish him from Teyvat.
Development
Genshin Impact began development as early as late January 2017, with an initial team of 120 people, which grew to 400 by the end of that year, and reached 700 by February 2021.[49][50] miHoYo revealed the game in June 2019 atE3 2019.[51][52] The game was developed using theUnity Engine.[53] The game had a development and marketing budget of around$100 million, making it one of themost expensive video games to develop.[54] Between the announcement and release closedbeta tests were held, allowing invited players to explore and interact with the open world.[55][56] The game includesvoice-overs in four languages, and 15 different languages for text.[57][58][59][k]
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is held in high regard by the development team, and is cited as one of the main inspirations forGenshin Impact.[60] Development was aimed at making the game different and fun from otherMMORPGs in terms of its quest and combat systems as well as its random events and mode of exploration.[61] The game was designed to be cross-platform as developing the game for PC and console allowed the developers to raise graphical fidelity for the game, such as rendering realistic shadows.[60]
The overall artistic vision of the game was intended to combine ananime style with elements from real-worldcultures,[62] and each nation is based on aregion of the world.
The game's overarching mythological basis isGnosticism, particularly the way it understands relationships between humans and their world, and how gods may influence this relationship.[63] The name given to Teyvat's gods, "Archon", is inspired by thelower gods of Gnostic cosmology. Although each Archon has a personal name for their "vessel", or human form, and is referred to with a specific title by the citizens of their nation, most gods in the game's story – even those who are not Archons – take the names ofdemons from theArs Goetia, the first volume ofThe Lesser Key of Solomon.[64]
Known as the "Nation of the Wind", Mondstadt is guarded by the wind god Barbatos,[65][66][67] with freedom as its core belief. Mondstadt's terrain is relatively flat, said to have been shaped by the winds of Barbatos,[68] and consists mainly of plains and forests.[69] Mondstadt is divided into five main regions: Starfell Valley, Galesong Hill, Windwail Highland, Brightcrown Mountains, and Dragonspine.[70] The central city of Mondstadt, located in Starfell Valley and surrounded by Cider Lake, serves as the region's main hub.[71] To the northeast lies Cape Oath, a historical site, while the Thousand Winds Temple, a ruined shrine to an ancient wind god, lies to the east.[70] Galesong Hill includes the areas of Wolvendom, Dawn Winery and Springvale,[72] with Dawn Winery being renowned throughout Teyvat for its wines.[70] The Windwail Highland, in the southeast, are known for the great oak tree at Windrise, symbolising the Lionfang Knight, and extend to the coast, where Cape Oath and Musk Reef are located. To the north is the Eagle's Gate region, a bay flanked by the coastlines of Eagle's Gate and Cape Oath.[70] The Brightcrown Mountains, to the northwest, consist of Brightcrown Canyon and Stormterror's Lair, which was once a city built by King Decarabian and now serves as the lair of the dragon Dvalin. Players gain access to this area by unlocking "Prologue, Act III" of the main story.[65][73] The southernmost region, Dragonspine, is known for its extreme cold, and players exposed to its Sheer Cold effect will continually lose health unless they find sources of heat to mitigate the effect.[74]
According to the production team, Dragonspine was inspired by theMatterhorn in theAlps.[75][76] They noted that the overallsaturation of the snow-covered region is lowered, creating a cooler light source, and the snow itself was inspired by the gradient seen in clouds. The story of Dragonspine is presented from the perspectives of an ancient kingdom, modernNPCs, and the player.[75]
Terry Bass ofThe AXO pointed out that Mondstadt's design draws on German and Swiss cultural influences, in particularBern, Switzerland.[77] He suggested that Mondstadt's cathedral was modeled afterRegensburg Cathedral in Germany.[77]
The music team headed byYu-Peng Chen fromHOYO-MiX composed the game's original score, which was performed by theLondon Philharmonic Orchestra, theShanghai Symphony Orchestra, and theTokyo Philharmonic Orchestra.[78][79][80] The approach to creating the soundtrack is to immerse players within the game, and provide emotional and beautiful melodies.[81] Chen composes the score based on the cultural influences of different regions.[82] For example, in Mondstadt, Chen used woodwind instruments to reflect Mondstadt's association with wind and freedom.[81] InLiyue, Chen used elements of Chinese folk music—traditional instruments, the pentatonic scale, and ancient tonal melodies—with Western romantic harmonies and orchestral arrangements.[83][84] In contrast, the battle themes usepolyphony and other composing techniques, as well as mimicking orchestration elements from composers such asBeethoven.[81]
On September 12, 2023, Yu-Peng Chen announced onBilibili that he was leaving miHoYo and the HOYO-MiX team, and was no longer working on the soundtrack.[85][86]
Release
The worldwide release, September 28, 2020, was announced on August 17 for PC and mobile platforms, and on August 28, it was revealed that the PlayStation 4 version was released on the same date.[87][88] The game was made available on PlayStation 5 throughbackwards compatibility on November 11.[89][1] On April 28, 2021, the PlayStation 5 version of the game was released.[90] ANintendo Switch version was announced in January 2020, with the last update being posted in May 2022.[91][92] No further updates have been posted since then, leading some to speculate that the port had either been cancelled or moved to theNintendo Switch 2.
On August 6, 2025, HoYoverse announced the cessation of support for the PlayStation 4 on April 8, 2026, citing hardware performance limitations and application size. Game download was removed on September 10, 2025, and in-game purchases will be removed on February 25, 2026, beforehand.[93]
When the game was first unveiled at theChinaJoy convention in 2019, it was immediately and initially met with criticisms claiming that the game had similarities toBreath of the Wild.[105]Zelda fans at the convention showed explicit gestures towards theSony booth, with one individual destroying their PlayStation 4 console in protest.[106] Kamui Ye ofIGN China highlighted similarities between the two games such as the overworld, art style and game mechanics while also emphasizingGenshin Impact's unique identity and features.[107]
Post-release
Genshin Impact received "generally favorable reviews" according toreview aggregatorMetacritic.[95][96] The open world of Teyvat drew praise;IGN's Travis Northup described Teyvat as "a world that is absolutely bursting at the seams with possibilities", andHardcore Gamer's Jordan Helm described it as "one big environmental puzzle".[27][100]Liyue in particular was picked out byKotaku's Sisi Jiang for being "one of the most exciting regions that I've visited in a video game in years", before continuing on to discuss how the region "shows an idealized portrayal of Chinese social relations that exists in localized pockets".[108]Game Informer characterized the game as an incredible experience, noting that "[t]he gameplay loop of collection, upgrading, and customization is captivating and compelling".[99] The execution of gameplay impressedPocket Gamer, andDestructoid's Chris Carter called the combat system "one of the most interesting things" about the game.[5][103]NPR remarked that the game had an abundance of content despite being free to play.[109] Gene Park ofThe Washington Post lauded the game as revolutionary for the genre, having players "imagine a mobile gaming world with titles with quality that matches the industry's top-tier experiences".[110]Polygon also praised the game for differentiating itself from its peers, heralding its arrival as mobile games become more mainstream and appealing to "an audience outside the typical mobile gaming demographic" and "new players without the hardware to play more conventional and resource-hogging RPGs".[111] Across all platforms, the game is estimated to have grossed nearly$3.8 billion by the end of 2022, representing the highest ever first-year launch revenue for any video game.[112][113]
Conversely,Genshin Impact has been criticized for its endgame content, itsgacha monetization system, and its self-limitations. Ari Nortis ofKotaku, for instance, wrote that although the game provides a solid experience it also has "some of the typical bullshit that comes along with a zero-dollar price tag" and that thegacha system can lead to a "cycle that belongs more inReno, Nevada, than a magical fantasy land of gods and wizards".[114]GameSpot echoed this criticism, noting that the game is "hampered a bit by the restrictions its free-to-play model imposes".[10]PC Gamer said that playing the endgame becomes "a slog", and that the resin system "feels so unnecessary".[115] Warning players about how predatory the monetization is,The Washington Post added that such a well-designed game from an aesthetic standpoint can lead some to gamble with the game'sgacha system.[21]
When theGenius Invokation TCG minigame launched, it received positive comments from critics.CBR compared the non standalone card games withHearthstone fromWorld of Warcraft andGwent fromThe Witcher 3, and believed that it could expand the game's audience.[116][117] Siliconera critic Stephanie Liu said that the minigame rekindled her excitement in the early days of the game.[118]Gamersky editor Youming Xingkong said that theGenius Invokation TCG is an attempt to keep players fresh inGenshin Impact and solve the burnout that will occur in long-term operation games.[119] TheYouxiputao editor also pointed out thatGenius Invokation TCG can "make up for the shortcomings of the game's long-term experience" and "strengthen the relationship between players".[120] Prior to launch, fans had already made aGenius Invokation TCGmod onTabletop Simulator.[121][122]
Commercial performance
On mobile platforms,Genshin Impact saw 23 million downloads and grossed approximately$60 million within a week after its release.[111][123] Within two weeks, that figure rose to over$100 million, recouping its development and marketing budget.[124] Its strong performance continued through October 2020 as the game was the highest-grossing game worldwide during that month.[125] Its largest revenue came from China, Japan, South Korea, and the United States, with 69 percent of mobile revenue coming from outside China itself during this time period specifically.[126][127] In the United States, its release was the largest launch of a role-playing game on mobile in history.[127]
On mobile platforms,Genshin Impact had grossed over $393 million within two months after release and over $1 billion by the end of March 2021, the third highest revenue from a mobile game during that time frame afterHonor of Kings andPUBG Mobile, making it one of thehighest grossing mobile games of all time and the fastest game to reach that milestone onGoogle Play and theApp Store.[128] By October 2021, the game had grossed $2 billion.[129][130] It became the world's third highest-grossingmobile game of 2021,[131] with$1.9 billion grossed that year.[132] By December 2021, the game had grossed$3 billion on iOS and Android devices worldwide. The game's largest mobile market is China with 30% of revenue, followed by Japan with 23% and then the United States with 20% of revenue.[133] Based on a December 16, 2023 survey conducted byNikkei Entertainment, the fanbase ofGenshin Impact within Japan has an average age of 27 years, and a male-to-female ratio that skews 60:40.[134] But according to another December 2023 survey, Japan and other Asian countries have a relatively more male skew in their player base compared to the West and it actually has a 55:45 male to female ratio globally.[135][136]
Across all platforms (including mobile, console and computer platforms), the game is estimated to have grossed nearly$3.7 billion in its first year by September 2021, the highest ever first-year launch revenue for any video game.[137] In that same month, the Raiden Shogun's debut banner earned $33,020,905 among iOS users in China alone.[138][better source needed] The mobile version grossed a further$567 million between January and March 2022,[139] adding up to more than$4.267 billion grossed as of March 2022[update].
The game's commercial success has been attributed to its visual design and use of Chinese cultural references.[140]: 261
AJuneyao Airlines Boeing 787-9 featuring theGenshin Impact livery, in collaboration with miHoYo
According to Mobile Games Insider, within two years of its launch,Genshin Impact had collaborated with food and beverage brands 12 times and with tourist destinations 11 times,[165] including partnerships withAlipay,Heytea,Pizza Hut,Mengniu Suibian,Amap,Redmi,Nippon Paint,KFC,OnePlus, and others.[166] In March 2021,Genshin Impact partnered withKFC inMainland China for a cross-promotional event.[167][168] On March 6, miHoYo officially announced the collaboration with KFC, launchingGenshin Impact-themed stores and offering themed postcards and badges with meals.[169][170][171] The event was wildly popular, with many fanscosplaying as game characters while visiting themed stores.[172] However, on March 13, KFC announced onSina Weibo that due to overcrowding in themed stores inShanghai andHangzhou, violating pandemic regulations, the events in those cities would be canceled.[173] The event's slogan, "Meet in another world, enjoy the delicacies," became a newInternet meme, and discussions of the collaboration spread beyondACG fans to includeReddit users, as well as both gaming and non-gaming media.[174][175] Additionally, according to incomplete statistics fromXinmin Evening News,Genshin Impact partnered with at least 14 brands, including Lawson,Alipay, andAmap in the second half of 2022.[176]
On September 20, 2023, to commemorate the third anniversary ofGenshin Impact,QQ Music andWeSing held a celebratory event forGenshin Impact players.[177] On November 3, 2023,Genshin Impact announced a renewed collaboration with Juneyao Airlines, unveiling the world's firstGenshin Impact-themed livery on aBoeing 787-9 Dreamliner, called "Genshin" (registration number B-209R), which began operating domestic and international routes for Juneyao Airlines on November 8. According to the partnership plan, the livery will remain for at least one year, andGenshin Impact merchandise such as a 1:150 scale model of the "Genshin" Boeing 787, a third-anniversary blanket, and passport covers will be available for purchase.[178][179]
OutsideMainland China, on July 29, 2021, Japan's Sweets Paradise announced that starting from September 1, all of its cafes in Japan would becomeGenshin Impact collaboration cafes for one month. In addition to offering food-themed around Mondstadt from the game, they also released exclusive pre-order merchandise.[180] From December 3 to 14, 2021, miHoYo hosted the HOYO-FEST event inSoutheast Asia, includingMalaysia,Singapore,Thailand,Indonesia, and thePhilippines. During the event, local partner restaurants offeredGenshin Impact-themed meals and merchandise.[181]
Other media
Prior to the release of the game, miHoYo released amanga on their websites detailing the background of its characters and the fictional world of Teyvat.[182] Various other artwork and short comics are also released onGenshin Impact's official social media accounts.[183] In addition, animated videos teasing its story, characters and combat are regularly released onGenshin Impact's officialYouTube channels.[184][185][186]
In September 2022, miHoYo announced a partnership with Japanese animation studioUfotable to develop a speculated anime adaptation based on the game, accompanied by a concept trailer.[187][188] Other future plans include a line of comics, toys, and a possible movie.[189][190]
The game has been criticized for initially lacking security features common on other sites, liketwo-factor authentication. On October 19, 2020, a vulnerable security flaw was discovered that exposed the phone number linked to a player's account during the password recovery attempt on the miHoYo website. However, the issue was not rectified until November 9, 2020.[191] miHoYo issued notices following the wake of security exposures, informing players to be careful about sharing account details and to bind their account to their email address and phone number.[192][193] In May 2021, two-factor authentication was added whenever the player signs in on a new device.[194][195]
Similar to other online games, the game uses ananti-cheat system implemented by akernel driver. The driver is used to prevent other programs from performingcode injection, memory inspection, and other process manipulation.[196][197] Shortly after release, players discovered that the game'skernel-based anti-cheat system would remain active after the game was closed or uninstalled,[198] which raised concerns that the game had installedspyware.[197] Some Japanese players using iOS devices also observed that the game read the contents of players'clipboards while starting up.[199] miHoYo announced that both issues were the result of coding errors and have been addressed and fixed.[200]
Censorship of words and designs
On October 6, 2020, journalist andTwitch streamer Kazuma Hashimoto published a video onTwitter demonstrating how political terms controversial in China such as "Hong Kong" and "Taiwan" arecensored within the in-game chat.[201] As miHoYo is based in China, they are subject toChina's censorship policy, which includes complying with a relatively large list of banned words that cannot be used in game.[201][202] Extending outside of purely political wordage, innocuous terms such as "enemies" and "words" were also being censored.[203]
In 2021, the Chinese government stated that video game companies should avoid "obscene and violent content and those breeding unhealthy tendencies, such as money-worship and effeminacy."[140]: 261 In September 2021, over 200 Chinese video game companies signed aself-censorship pact, agreeing to remove content that would promote the "wrong set of values" and fall foul of Chinese government regulations on gaming.[204] In early 2022, HoYoverse released an update that provided new outfits for many playable characters that were more modest than the original designs.[140]: 260–261 These alternate outfits were implemented as an additional option for global servers, but were mandatory in China.[140]: 261 In response, some media outlets discussed whether this was an instance of the game of censoring its content.[205][206][207][208]
Notes
^Published in China by miHoYo, in Vietnam by Funtap, and in Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan by Nijigen Games
^Developed and published bymiHoYo, with publishing outside mainland China under Cognosphere,d/b/a HoYoverse.
^During the Liyue Archon Quests, Moraxfaked his death as a way to retire as the Geo Archon.
^The current Raiden Shogun is apuppet created to rule on behalf of the current Archon, Raiden Ei. Though the two inhabit the same body, she is considered a separate person from the puppet.
^During the Fontaine Archon Quests, Focalors sacrifices herself to prevent the destruction of Fontaine, destroying the Hydro Throne and leaving Furina as her remaining human self. As the title of "Hydro Archon" now no longer exists, Focalors' elemental authority is returned to Neuvillette, the nation's Chief Justice and the Hydro Sovereign.
^Part of Snezhnaya, but treated as anautonomous region
^InTeyvat Chapter Storyline Preview: Travail, Dainsleif suggests the Tsaritsa's idealwas originallylove, but this has not yet been confirmed in-game.
^Although it is known that the Fatui serve the Tsaritsa and that they possess military and diplomatic might, it is currently unclear if the organization itself is Snezhnaya's governing body or just a part of it.
^Voiceover languages include Chinese, English, Japanese, and Korean. Text languages include Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, English, French, German, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Thai, Turkish, and Vietnamese.
^"《原神》测试版试玩：国产手游离3A最近的一次" [Genshin Impact beta test play: the closest domestic mobile games to 3A].shouyou.gamersky.com (in Chinese). June 21, 2019. p. 2.Archived from the original on June 22, 2019. RetrievedOctober 22, 2019.
^abcNorthup, Travis (October 14, 2020)."Genshin Impact Review".IGN.Archived from the original on January 18, 2021. RetrievedOctober 14, 2020.
miHoYo Comic (w, a). "Songs of the Wind"Genshin Impact, vol. 1, no. 1, p. 48 (November 23, 2018). Archived fromthe original on December 25, 2022. Retrieved on April 6, 2022.
^miHoYo (April 12, 2020).原神 [Genshin Impact] (1.4 ed.). Scene: A Herald Without Adherents. Level/area: We Will Be Reunited.Dainsleif: '500 years ago, the gods descended upon the world and brought desolation to Khaenri'ah.'
^miHoYo (April 12, 2020).原神 [Genshin Impact] (1.4 ed.). Scene: Albedo's Story, 4.'Khaenri'ah was an underground realm, and its natural fauna were few indeed.'
^miHoYo (September 28, 2020).原神 [Genshin Impact] (1.0 ed.). Scene: Ending Note. Level/area: Song of the Dragon and Freedom.Venti: 'As you know, Visions are external magical foci that only a small minority of people possess. They use these Visions to channel elemental power.'
^miHoYo (September 28, 2020).原神 [Genshin Impact] (1.0 ed.). Scene: Ending Note. Level/area: Song of the Dragon and Freedom.Venti: 'As I said before, Vision wielders are known as allogenes and may ascend to Celestia.'
^miHoYo (September 28, 2020).原神 [Genshin Impact] (2.1 ed.). Scene: Those Who Yearn for the Gods' Gaze. Level/area: Omnipresence Over Mortals.Teppei: 'So... what's the difference between a Delusion and a Vision?'Traveler: 'A Delusion drains the user's life force.'
^miHoYo (September 28, 2020).原神 [Genshin Impact] (1.0 ed.). Scene: Ending Note. Level/area: Song of the Dragon and Freedom.Venti: 'A Gnosis is a higher-order nexus of elemental manipulation and is emblematic of an archon's status as one of The Seven.'
^miHoYo (September 28, 2020).原神 [Genshin Impact] (1.0 ed.). Scene: A Very Volatile Treasure. Level/area: True Treasure.Paimon: 'Hey, come on now... Paimon already told you that the Abyss Mages are the bad guys... And actually, they're the worst kind of bad guys you can imagine. They don't just hate the good guys, they hate all people... Their enemy is... humanity itself.'
^miHoYo (September 28, 2020).原神 [Genshin Impact] (1.0 ed.). Scene: Ending Note. Level/area: Song of the Dragon and Freedom.Venti: '...I see. So, the Abyss Order has a Prince/Princess who orchestrated the plan to corrupt Dvalin?'
^miHoYo (September 28, 2020).原神 [Genshin Impact] (1.0 ed.). Scene: Shadow over Mondstadt. Level/area: For a Tomorrow Without Tears.Jean: 'Those people in strange uniforms... are Fatui. They're here as delegates from Snezhnaya.'
^abmiHoYo (September 28, 2020).原神 [Genshin Impact] (1.0 ed.). Scene: Ending Note. Level/area: Song of the Dragon and Freedom.Venti: 'She and the rest of the harbingers have been given god-like executive authority by the Tsaritsa of Snezhnaya, and with it, strength surpassing that of other mortals.'
^"原神制作组致玩家的一封信" [A letter from the Genshin Impact production team to the players].ys.mihoyo.com (in Chinese). June 25, 2019. Archived fromthe original on April 6, 2021. RetrievedJune 30, 2021.原神项目最早尝试于2017年1月底立项 [The Genshin Impact project was first attempted to be established at the end of January 2017]
^Youxiputao; Hui Xinge (December 21, 2022).""米哈游想再造一款《炉石传说》？"".Youxiputao (in Chinese).Archived from the original on January 5, 2023. RetrievedMarch 28, 2023.
^Dai Hema (December 14, 2023)."失业炉石主播，在《原神》七圣召唤找到第二春".Youxi Putao (in Chinese).Archived from the original on January 5, 2023. RetrievedJanuary 22, 2023.
^abcdEyman, Douglas; Eyman, Douglas; Sun, Hongmei (2024). "Translation and Chinese Culture in Video Games". In Guo, Li; Eyman, Douglas; Sun, Hongmei (eds.).Games & Play in Chinese & Sinophone Cultures. Seattle, WA:University of Washington Press.ISBN9780295752402.
^猛鲨男鱼王 (August 24, 2024)."2024年科隆展获奖名单公布：《怪物猎人：荒野》领跑".Gamersky (in Chinese).Archived from the original on December 19, 2024. RetrievedDecember 15, 2024.
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