Why Do People Hate Genshin Impact?

Genshin Impact, the open-world action RPG developed by miHoYo, has taken the gaming world by storm. With its stunning visuals, engaging gameplay, and a vast world to explore, it has garnered a massive following. However, despite its popularity, Genshin Impact also faces its fair share of criticism and outright hate. So, what's behind the negativity? Why do some gamers actively dislike or even hate Genshin Impact? Let's dive into the various reasons and explore the perspectives of the Genshin Impact haters.

Gacha Mechanics and Monetization

One of the primary sources of criticism directed at Genshin Impact is its gacha system. For those unfamiliar, a gacha system is a type of monetization where players spend in-game currency (or real money) to obtain random virtual items. In Genshin Impact, this applies to obtaining new characters and powerful weapons. While the game is free-to-play, the gacha mechanics can feel predatory to some players, especially those with a tendency to spend excessively. The low drop rates for rare characters and weapons can lead to frustration and a sense of being forced to spend money to progress or acquire desired characters.

The problem with gacha systems: The inherent randomness of gacha systems can be incredibly frustrating. Players might spend a significant amount of money and still not get the character or weapon they want. This can lead to feelings of disappointment and resentment towards the game. Some argue that this type of monetization exploits vulnerable players, particularly those with addictive personalities.

Free-to-play vs. Pay-to-win: While Genshin Impact isn't strictly pay-to-win (as skill and strategic team composition can compensate for having weaker characters), the gacha system undeniably provides an advantage to those who spend money. Players with access to a wider range of characters and powerful weapons can clear content more easily and efficiently. This disparity can create a sense of unfairness among free-to-play players.

The grind is real: Even without spending money, obtaining enough in-game currency to pull on the gacha banners requires a significant time investment. This can feel like a chore to some players, especially when the rewards don't seem commensurate with the effort required. The daily commissions, events, and exploration needed to earn Primogems (the premium currency) can become repetitive and tedious.

Perceived Lack of Endgame Content

Another common complaint among Genshin Impact haters is the perceived lack of endgame content. Once players have completed the main story quests and explored the open world, the options for long-term engagement become limited. While miHoYo regularly introduces new events and updates, some players feel that these additions are not substantial enough to keep them invested in the game.

The Spiral Abyss: The Spiral Abyss is the primary endgame activity in Genshin Impact. It's a series of challenging combat floors that players must clear to earn rewards. However, the Spiral Abyss is often criticized for being too difficult and requiring specific team compositions and character builds. This can be frustrating for players who don't have access to the required characters or who prefer to play with different characters.

Repetitive Events: While the events in Genshin Impact offer variety, many of them involve repetitive tasks such as completing daily commissions, defeating enemies, or collecting resources. This can lead to a sense of burnout, especially for players who have been playing the game for a long time. Some players feel that the events are designed primarily to encourage spending on the gacha banners, rather than providing genuinely engaging content.

The Resin System: The Resin system is another limiting factor when it comes to endgame content. Resin is required to claim rewards from certain activities, such as domains (which offer character ascension materials and artifacts) and world bosses. The amount of Resin is limited, and it takes time to regenerate. This means that players can only complete a limited number of these activities each day, which can feel restrictive and discourage extended play sessions.

Story and Character Development

While many players praise the story and characters of Genshin Impact, others find them to be lacking. Some criticize the pacing of the story, the writing quality, and the lack of meaningful character development. These critics often feel that the characters are one-dimensional and that their motivations are not always clear.

Pacing Issues: The main story of Genshin Impact is divided into chapters, each of which takes place in a different region of the world. However, the pacing of the story can feel uneven, with some chapters being more engaging than others. Some players feel that the story spends too much time on filler content and that it takes too long to progress the main plot.

Writing Quality: The writing quality in Genshin Impact is a subject of debate. Some players find the dialogue to be witty and charming, while others find it to be generic and uninspired. Some also criticize the localization, claiming that the English translation is not always accurate or well-written.

Character Depth: The characters in Genshin Impact are often praised for their visual designs and unique abilities. However, some players feel that the characters lack depth and complexity. They argue that the characters are often defined by a single personality trait or gimmick and that their backstories are not fully explored.

Technical Issues and Bugs

Like any large-scale game, Genshin Impact is not without its technical issues and bugs. While miHoYo regularly releases updates to address these problems, some players continue to experience performance issues, glitches, and other technical difficulties. These issues can detract from the overall experience and lead to frustration.

Performance Problems: Genshin Impact can be demanding on hardware, especially on mobile devices. Some players experience frame rate drops, stuttering, and other performance issues, even on high-end devices. This can make the game feel clunky and unresponsive, especially during combat.

Glitches and Bugs: Genshin Impact has been plagued by various glitches and bugs since its release. Some of these bugs are minor and simply annoying, while others can be game-breaking and prevent players from progressing. While miHoYo is generally quick to fix these issues, they can still be frustrating for players who encounter them.

Platform Discrepancies: Genshin Impact is available on multiple platforms, including PC, PlayStation, and mobile devices. However, there can be discrepancies in performance and features between these platforms. For example, the mobile version of the game may have lower graphics settings or fewer customization options than the PC version.

Community Toxicity

Unfortunately, like many online communities, the Genshin Impact community is not immune to toxicity. Some players engage in harassment, gatekeeping, and other forms of negative behavior. This can create a hostile environment for new players and discourage people from participating in the community.

Elitism and Gatekeeping: Some players in the Genshin Impact community can be elitist and gatekeeping. They may look down on players who are new to the game, who don't have the best characters, or who don't play the game "optimally." This can make it difficult for new players to learn the game and feel welcome in the community.

Harassment and Bullying: Unfortunately, harassment and bullying can occur in any online community. Some players in the Genshin Impact community may engage in personal attacks, insults, and other forms of harassment. This can be incredibly hurtful and discouraging for the victims.

Shipping Wars and Waifu Wars: The Genshin Impact community is also known for its "shipping wars" and "waifu wars." These are debates over which characters should be romantically paired together or which characters are the "best waifu." While these debates can be lighthearted and fun, they can also become heated and toxic, with players resorting to insults and personal attacks.

Is the Hate Justified?

Whether or not the hate towards Genshin Impact is justified is a matter of opinion. Some of the criticisms, such as the gacha mechanics and the lack of endgame content, are valid concerns that miHoYo should address. However, other criticisms, such as the story and character development, are more subjective and depend on individual preferences. Ultimately, whether or not you enjoy Genshin Impact is a matter of personal taste.

Constructive Criticism vs. Blind Hate: It's important to distinguish between constructive criticism and blind hate. Constructive criticism is aimed at improving the game and providing feedback to the developers. Blind hate, on the other hand, is simply negativity for the sake of negativity. While it's fine to dislike Genshin Impact, it's important to express your opinions in a respectful and constructive manner.

The Success Speaks for Itself: Despite the criticisms, Genshin Impact remains incredibly popular and successful. The game has generated billions of dollars in revenue and has a dedicated player base that continues to grow. This suggests that, for many players, the positive aspects of the game outweigh the negative ones.

In conclusion, the hate towards Genshin Impact stems from a variety of factors, including its gacha mechanics, perceived lack of endgame content, story and character development, technical issues, and community toxicity. While some of these criticisms are valid, others are more subjective. Ultimately, whether or not you enjoy Genshin Impact is a matter of personal taste. So, what do you guys think?