Genshin Impact’s new Sumeru Character Criticized for Being Too White

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Genshin Impact has recently brought a new patch online, featuring a new Sumeru region and some new playable characters. However, when the patch was released, these Sumeru characters received criticisms from international players, regarding the character’s skin tone.

Sumeru

According to the character’s outfit and regional environment displayed in the new region, it was widely accepted that the concept and design were inspired and based on South West Asia and North Africa (SWANA) cultures. This means people habituating in both Sumeru and SWANA should naturally have darker skin tones.

Fans are hoping the developers to “show brown people the justice they deserved”, and made some edits on new characters’ complexions, receiving thousands of likes on Twitter.

Someone also made comparison showing Genshin not having many skin color diversity in its characters.

Before jumping to any racial conclusions, Genshin Devs should have their rightful benefit of the doubt. Some argue that Chinese players relatively care much less about light skin tones - it could be due to a cultural difference.

The comment section on Twitter

However, this is an important lesson for all Chinese developers to learn. As more Chinese games are competing on the global market, showing respect and acknowledgment of sensitive cultural and political issues would becoming increasingly important.

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Comments

Sam Karis

It's not politics you ape. It's proper representation. The fact that my skin color has become political is the problem. Imagine if in every game you'd see black and brown people only. Even in Eurocentric areas. You'd be like wtf as well. They can't even deny skin color doesn't matter to Asian because it does. I've actually been to China and the advertising is pandering to the whitest of white asians when in fact millions of Chinese citizens are shades of tan and brown. Get off the internet and actually get some facts

07/17/2022

kimdokja

Wow. An Asian company wants to create Asian regions. Shocking!! It's none of your business because it's not your company and it's not your designs either. "representation" doesn't matter. It has no effect on the game. You should log off and touch some grass for being worked up over the skin color of pixels.

12/18/2023

kimdokja

People are meant to be playing for the game, not their identity politics.

07/12/2022

kimdokja

You want a game company to pander to the politics of other countries? Lol, you're actually deranged.

07/12/2022

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