A boycott has been launched by a handful of Genshin Impact players and the leaders of the boycott are instructing players to continue to play the game.
A screenshot from Genshin Impact (2021), MiHoYo
The Genshin Impact boycotters launched a petition on Change.org accusing developer MiHoYo or Hoyoverse of cultural appropriation and whitewashing. The petition states, “We call on MiHoYo to stop cultural appropriation and whitewashing in their games and to commit to respectful and accurate representation of all cultures.”
It continues, “MiHoYo, a leading game development company, has repeatedly taken inspiration from indigenous cultures without proper representation and respect. In particular, the many characters from Sumeru and Natlan in Genshin Impact, and from Penacony in Honkai Star Rail are all clearly white or only lightly tanned at best, with the exception of some enemy NPCs which has sparked concerns… among players and indigenous communities.”
A screenshot from Genshin Impact (2021), MiHoYo
Next, it declares, “Cultural appropriation and whitewashing perpetuate harmful stereotypes and diminish the rich cultural heritage of indigenous communities. These practices not only misrepresent cultures but also contribute to ongoing marginalization and disrespect.”
It then issues a list of demands: “MiHoYo to: Engage with indigenous cultural consultants. Revise existing content to ensure accurate representation. Commit to creating diverse and inclusive characters.”
The petition currently has 43,428 signatures.
A screenshot from Genshin Impact (2021), MiHoYo
On top of this petition, an X account called HYV (Hoyoverse) Boycott was also created last week. The account provides instructions to players participating in the Boycott.
On the “Do” side it requests players “review bomb” the game as well as provide feedback to Hoyoverse via its surveys and to “send complaints to customer support.” It also asks players to “contact your local politicians.”
On the “Don’t” side of its instructions it implies that players should continue to play the game despite labeling the list as Boycott Hoyoverse. It instructs players to not “make any purchases, participate in giveaways, [and] participate in Hoyoverse’s economic flow” such as “battlepass, purchaseable login awards, merchandise, [and] collaboration.”
HYV Boycott on X
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In fact, the boycotters even informed one person that they can continue to purchase Genshin Impact plushies, “Merchandise not made by HoYoverse are not targets of the boycott. As long as the money is not interacting with HoYoverse you may purchase Genshin/HSR/ZZZ-related items.”
HYV Boycott on X
The reason behind the boycott appears to be Genshin Impact’s newly released Natlan area.
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The first post from the HYV Boycott account states, “I think it’s safe to say that we have all had enough of the erasure of our cultures and identities. Today I introduce you all to Boycott Hoyoverse. We will be an account sharing how you can boycott. Spread the word! Anything helps.”
HYV Boycott on X
In another thread the account detailed, “There has been a distinct lack of darker skin tones represented in the game; characters from these cultures are actively being heavily referenced but are being whitewashed. This is especially noticeable and ever-present in not only Sumeru and Natlan, but also in other nations.”
“These practices not only misrepresent said cultures, but also contribute to the ongoing marginalization and disrespect, that is perpetuating colorism further in the media; causing even more harm than good to communities and groups of individuals who are a part of them,” the account continued.
HYV Boycott on X
It then declared, “To improve the accuracy of representation, please: – Engage with indigenous cultural consultants – Revise existing content to ensure accurate representation – Commit to creating diverse and inclusive characters.”
It then calls for characters with disabilities, “Disabilities are also under-represented in the game. It would help enormously to normalize and improve understanding around various conditions, to reduce stigma and ableism. In such a large cast, there should be a proportionate amount of representation.”
HYV Boycott on X
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Next, the account declared, “For centuries minorities have been subject to attempted eradication, today they face dangers of their culture being erased in continued attempts to remove them from society. Genshin has worsened this issue by aiding these people through the means of influence.”
It added, “We sincerely ask that you do not adopt the virtues that the oppressors wish for all to have. Using cultures only to remove the people from it cannot be tolerated.”
HYV Boycott on X
From there, the account posted, “This is an old colonialist tactic used for centuries, by omitting them from media where you do not see or hear from these minorities. Their silent disappearance from the world is something that Genshin is assisting in.”
HYV Boycott said the game was dangerous for “normalizing the idea that black and brown people do not exist and do not deserve to be seen.”
HYV Boycott on X
A they continued, they declared, “Genshin is currently creating a very welcoming environment for people that do not want for black or brown people to exist.”
“This is very clearly evident with the way that the writers intend for people to interact with these characters in your story. We urge you all to rethink this fact,” the account stated.
HYV Boycott on X
From there it posited, “The further international media intends for brown and black people to beg for their right to be seen,” makes the world worse, and “is not something that a story about coexistence and togetherness should promote.”
“Genshin and other HoYoverse (HYV) products have repeatedly decided to support, defend and paint colonialism in a positive light. This is a thing that society today wishes to move on from,” the account declared.
“Scholars and historians have LONG documented the effects that fiction has on society. It now has an integral part of education systems to teach their children every term of every year in every school,” it noted.
HYV Boycott on X
“All language classes have students analyze and comprehend the meanings behind authors’ work,” the account continued. “Examples such as J. Swift in his work such as, Gulliver’s Travels remain to this day so influential that any examination on literature history and social civics includes him.”
Next, it stated, “We now ask why Genshin intends to undo the work that sociologists, historians, and many others attempt to do by uprooting the systems created for oppressing minorities. The very same systems that we struggle so much in undoing, the systems that were made to be automatic and seemingly futile to attempt fighting.”
The account questioned, “Why would HYV protect it? Why does the company and its writers feel that this system should be preserved?”
HYV Boycott on X
Finally, the account concluded, “Authors and activists have been killed in an attempt to fight back against this system and today when we’re so close to finally being rid of it, why does HYV intend to let all their deaths be in vain?”
“Now, we all want to encourage you to also use your own words, for you to speak your mind on the matter and share your thoughts on how this is not okay, that Hoyo continuously disrespects and does not care about the people whose cultures they’re using as bases in their games,” the account finished.
HYV Boycott on X
What do you make of these accusations against Hoyoverse and the instructions the boycotters are giving to players? What do you make of the boycott in general?
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