Genshin Impact Voice Actors Join in Criticism of Upcoming Natlan's Region's Character Designs
Genshin Impact is facing more accusations of cultural appropriation and whitewashing, and some of its voice actors are asking publisher HoYoverse to make changes.
The ever-expanding Genshin Impact universe features stories and locations seemingly inspired by the real world. Similarities range from the geography of in-game settings to architecture, mythology, music, food, and history in general. These connections have been extended to a new region, Natlan, which was revealed in a trailer released last week.
Fan outcry 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 — who seem to be inspired by real-life deities like the Maori's Mahuika — are all white. It continues a trend in Genshin Impact that has seen players begging for proper representation.
Now some of the actors behind Genshin Impact’s faces have begun to chime in. Albedo actor, Khoi Dao, published a statement on X/Twitter calling for change in Genshin Impact.
“If a game draws so heavily from real-world cultures and bases a character on the supreme deity of Yoruba religion, and that character ends up looking like pale Sasuke Batman, people are absolutely within their rights to demand better representation, ESPECIALLY when said game has a clearly-stated commitment to a *global* audience.”
Dao continued: "I hope y’all keeping make your voices heard, and I hope they listen."
Zeno Robinson, who voices the recently released Genshin Impact character Sethos, also called out HoYoverse, highlighting a worldwide desire for better representation.
“If even your base audience, the Chinese fans, are asking for better representation/or character with different shades of melanin, who are you making these characters for?” Robinson said.
Ọlọrun Is the supreme Yoruba deity. You could find that with a quick Google search, even.
This is unforgivable. Look at what a sick job SMITE did with their own interpretation!!! IT’S NOT
