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The Lantern Rite in Genshin Impact celebrating the Chinese New Year, has always been highly anticipated by players. However, the rewards announced during the official livestream for version 4.4 did not meet the expectations of the fanbase. Chinese players, in particular, have expressed their discontent, stating that the rewards offered are far from satisfactory, especially compared to other titles by HoYoverse. Here's a recap of the situation about the Latnern Rite rewards and player protests.
Social Media Backlash and Allegations
The discontent has been most visibly expressed on platforms such as Douyin (CN TikTok) and BiliBili (CN YouTube). Genshin Impact's official accounts have witnessed a significant drop in followers. In just 24 hours, the official Douyin account lost around a million followers, and the backlash extended to platforms like BiliBili where players are giving the game a 1-star rating in protest.
Some users allege that HoYoverse uses bot accounts to maintain follower counts on Bilibili. This has further fueled the outrage among players, raising concerns about the transparency of the company's social media engagement.
Chinese players are not only frustrated with Genshin Impact but have also extended to related brands. Major names like KFC, Pizza Hut, and HeyTea, which have collaborated with Genshin, are reportedly being targeted as players unfollow accounts in retaliation.
Comparisons with Honkai Star Rail
The outrage is not only because of the Lantern Rite rewards but also because of comparisons with Hoyoverse's other games. Notably, Honkai Star Rail rewarded players with a free 5-star character in its recent patch.
Some users allege that Hoyoverse uses bot accounts to maintain follower counts on Bilibili. This has further fueled the outrage among players, raising concerns about the transparency of the company's social media engagement.
History Repeating Itself and Hoyoverse's Response
This isn't the first time Genshin Impact has faced backlash over in-game rewards. The anniversary celebration in the past also triggered widespread disappointment among players globally. However, the current situation in China appears to be more significant. Historical precedence suggests that the vocal discontent of the Chinese player base has influenced past decisions by Hoyoverse, such as the buffing of the character Zhongli in 2021.
As of now, HoYoverse has not addressed the controversy or responded to player concerns. The situation has left players wondering about the company's stance and potential actions to address this.
