Genshin Impact’s sheer size is leaving mobile players behind

polygon.com:

If you check the replies to any of the Genshin Impact Twitter account’s new patch pre-download announcements, you’ll see dozens of players anxiously awaiting information on the file size of the update. If it’s relatively small, people will reply with comments saying that they survived another. Other fans will post screenshots of their phone showing how little, or how much, storage they have left.

File size is a hot-button issue for fans of the large adventure game. When Genshin Impact came out, fans and critics alike marveled at its scope. At the time, it seemed unbelievable that a game critics likened to The Legend of Zelda: The Breath of the Wild, could run on a phone. Fast forward two years and it still runs on mobile, even as the open world has only gotten bigger. When its next big 3.0 Sumeru update launches, the game will consist of four massive and unique regions, along with special regional zones and unique story content for its ever-growing cast of characters. And while it might seem like a small issue, the size of each next update could make or break if certain mobile players will be able to play the game.

Genshin Impact is a massively popular game worldwide. A report from the analytics firm Sensor Tower showed the game made roughly one billion dollars every six months, the most revenue generated by gacha mobile title globally. This popularity is reflected in its vocal fan base too, as it was the most mentioned video game on Twitter in 2021. Because Genshin Impact is playable on mobile and free to download, it’s a pretty accessible way to play a large adventure at a reasonable cost. There’s no need to buy a console or gaming PC. Though the game can certainly become more expensive if players spend their money to