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phoenix-creates · 5 months ago

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Genshin Impact, Both the Game and the Community, Cannot Hide Their Colorism or Racism Anymore

This is going to be a long read. I refuse to stay silent.

I've played Genshin Impact on and off since 2021 when I was first introduced to it. I drew fanart but rarely participated in the fandom, as Genshin has one of the most toxic and racist fandoms that takes pleasure in driving off content creators of color, perpetuating racism within the communities, as well as harassing and threatening people who dare try to speak out about it. But, for as racist as the fandom is, what can I expect from them considering Hoyoverse as a whole has it's own set of racial problems.

It is clear from the release of Sumeru to the recent teasers of Natlan. Hoyoverse has colorism problems and racism problems and we're going to take a look at them here.

Before we begin, I want to take a moment to say that there will be a lot of information presented in this post. I ask that you read carefully and be considerate of every talking point presented.

Now, let's talk about Sumeru.

Sumeru, the fourth region released in Genshin Impact, draws a lot of real world inspiration from Middle Eastern culture, with even the geography mimicking the real world geography of China and India. The characters, music, food, and geography all draw inspiration from various different real world cultures, and just from a few glances, it is easy to see exactly where and what cultures they’re taking from.

Candace for instance, from name to appearance, draws inspiration from kandakes, which was the title of a queen mother in Nubian kingdoms. Even her accessories, her talents, and her weapon take pieces from other aspects of Egyptian culture.

Cyno, another character from Sumeru, is dressed in garb that mimics depictions of Anubis, the ancient Egyptian God of funerary rites and protector of graves. As with Candace, his talents and abilities reference Egypt.

Even Sethos, a newcomer to the game and also a Sumeru character, has clothes, skills, and a name that alludes to either the Egyptian God Set, the god of the desert and storms, the Egyptian pantheon in general, or the Ancient Egyptian King Seti/Sethos.

These three characters are tanned, anyone can see that, but if you take a closer look you'll notice that they're all around the same shade. Considering all three of them take inspiration from real world Egyptian culture, it is insane to me that they're all a similar shade of the same slightly tanned tone. It is unacceptable that they're all a shade or two away from white when all of them has some aspect of Egyptian culture in their character.

To further shed light on Sumeru's racist sins, there exists a long standing conflict in Sumeru regarding The Eremites, a race of people descended from the ancient, now-collapsed civilization who primarily live in the desert. These people are the enemies in the game. You read that right. The desert dwellers are the enemies and not only that, but unlike the treasure hoarders who disappear into smoke when defeated, the Eremites collapse to the ground like the Fatui.

Why do the Treasure Hoarders, a band of pale skinned thieves, get away but the Eremites, treated as if their culture is lesser, presumably die?

Worse than that, there is a long quest in Sumeru where a white academic from Sumeru spends nearly the entire length of the quest insulting an Eremite. The quest I'm referring to, Golden Slumber, is a multi part quest that has the Traveler accompanying a researcher named Tirzad who is exploring the ruins in the deserts of Sumeru. Throughout the quest, Tirzad spends most of his time complaining and insulting Jeht and Jebrael, calling the latter an uneducated brute whenever Jebrael tries to do anything. And the Traveler is no help, with dialogue options remaining neutral instead of rightfully telling Tirzad to stop.

What we have here is a white man stereotyping a man of color and assuming things about himself and his race due to his own racist biases.

Many players have called out the racism in Tirzad’s actions and this quest overall, but Tirzad at multiple times fails to see the error of his ways and leads the group into life threatening situations simply because he can’t believe an “uneducated desert brute” could possibly know more than him.

I could sit here and pick apart more aspects of Sumeru and it's failures to properly represent the culture it's using, but I want to get into the inciting incident of this entire post, which is Natlan.

When the teaser for Natlan was released, it was just another failure on Hoyoverse's part. To understand why, we can break it down into parts, starting with the character leaks:

Mavuika, presumably the pyro archon, with a name inspired by Māori fire deity Mahuika.

Ororon, a mispelling of the Yoruba god Ọlọrun, the creator deity in the Yoruban pantheon.

Kinich, named after the Mayan god of the sun.

Iansan, another character whose name comes from the Yoruba pantheon.

Xilonen, this name coming from one of the aspects of the Aztec goddess of maize and the goddess of sustenance.

Kachina, name inspiration directly lifted from the religious beliefs of the indigenous Pueblos people.

Chasca, name coming from the Incan goddess of dawn and twilight.

Citlali, a name derived from Nahuatl, which is a language from ancient Mexico.

Are you seeing something interesting with these characters?

Hoyoverse has shoved multiple different cultures under one region and whitewashed every character. They did the bare bones work of lifting names and small design inspirations from so many different cultures and using them in the laziest way possible. If not pale white, the few characters who are tanned are a mere shade darker than Cyno and almost the same shade as Kaeya. There is nothing darker in sight with any of these characters.

Cultural representation matters. If Hoyoverse can explore the cultures of Germany (Mondstadt), China (Liyue), Japan (Inazuma), and France (Fontaine), it is insane that the same sort of love couldn't be given to both Sumeru and Natlan, both nations where we should rightfully be seeing more people of color.

(Side note, we should be seeing more people of color in the previous regions as well, even as NPCs. Bi-racial people exist all over the world, not just in America. Quick google searches will show what I mean.)

I can already hear the arguments against me.

"But Hoyoverse is an East Asian company! They don't need to/don't care about representation!"

Oh really? Because Lilithgames, the company behind Dislyte, is a company based in Shanghai, China. And when you compare the variety of skin tones of Dislyte to Genshin, you cannot make the argument that a company based in Asia doesn't care about diversity. Hoyoverse does not seem to care, but don't make it a blanket statement for all companies.

Still not convinced? Bluepoch, a small Chinese company behind Reverse:1999, is responsible for this character:

Smite, a game published by Hi-Rez Studios and Tencent Games (A Chinese publisher), has a character based on Olorun. And they did just fine in their depiction of him:

And the director behind Tekken 7, Katsuhiro Harad, shared concept art of an Arab fighter they want to add to the game. Why? Because he wanted to make sure he was respecting Middle Eastern culture and asked for feedback to see what can be improved. He posted this concept art and asked the community for input to make Shaheen as accurate as possible:

But sure. Asian companies don't care.

"It's a fantasy world! It doesn't have to 1-to-1 mimic the real world!"

Oh really? So why are characters named after real world cultural figures, why is the food based around real world food, why are outfits somewhat inspired by real world garbs then? If you're gonna draw inspiration from something and use the real world in your game, the world is a diverse place. It is not all white nor all slightly tanned.

"You can always stop playing the game."

I could, but that would mean letting them win and get away with their racism. It would mean letting Hoyoverse think this is the norm instead of the outlier. It would mean staying silent during injustice. I can do a lot of things, and exposing their issues is one of them.

"It could be difficult for them to implement dark-skinned characters."

It actually is not. Look at all the examples from other games and companies discussed previously. It's not hard. Plus, take a look at Wriothesley's concept art:

Originally, he had a different skin tone. So characters with different tones existed but got lightened and changed over time.

"I don't want [insert race here] in my fantasy game/it doesn't matter!"

Honey, you're just racist.

"Wow, I get it now. This is bad. What can I do to help?"

There are several ways:

Use Surveys and Feedback when you log into Hoyoverse games. This problem extends past Genshin, into HSR and ZZZ (a game whose ads promote itself with rap music and yet noticeably lack playable dark skinned characters so far). Use the platforms that they gave us in order to spread the word. Tell them that you're dissatisfied with the cultural appropriation and disappointed in Hoyoverse for taking certain cultures and whitewashing them. Email [email protected] if the feedback buttons aren't working for some reason.

Stop putting money into the game. A lot of companies listen when there's monetary loss involved. Show them that you mean business and stop supporting their business. You can also leave a one star and a review with your thoughts on their cultural appropriation.

Amplify the voices of those speaking out. There are plenty of posts out there better worded than mine that go in depth into a lot of these problems. Multiple voice actors of all ethnicities and backgrounds have spoken up about Hoyoverse’s injustices as well (many of the VAs from the game, including the voices of Albedo, Sucrose, Layla, Beidou, and even VAs for smaller NPCs have spoken out). When you see those posts, share them. Spread the word. Get those voices out there.

Shut down those silencing others. For as many posts out there trying to bring more light to this issue, there are others who try to shut us down. They continue to be racist and double down that nothing is wrong with Natlan. Do not let them get away with this. Show them this post or the myriad of other posts that exist. Tell them to shut the fuck up. Call them out. But don't let them silence anyone else.

If you've made it to the end and learned something, I'm glad. If you've made it to the end and want to further support me or anyone else in this fight, share this post and others like it.

Thank you for reading.

EDIT: As noted in this ask, the naming conventions of characters from other regions as opposed to Sumeru and Natlan. I’ll be adding a separate reblog to this post with a full list of naming conventions from each region.

#genshin impact #natlan #sumeru #genshin #hoyoverse #vent post #genshin cyno #candace genshin #sethos genshin #kaeya genshin impact #colorism #antiblackness

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mya-valentine · 2 months ago

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Requesting Headcanons for Kinich, Heizou, Sethos. (I just realized I'm requesting all 3 green eyes guys lol) S/o a cat girl, rarely let them touch her animal feature but when she does it was reveal the reason why she rarely let them, was that she purr easily when received affection especially when petting her animal feature, it makes her feline instinct slip out. Bonus use a laser on her or magnifying glass she would chase like a cat without realizing it. Wonder how they would use this cute fact about their s/o hehe~

Headcanon: Kinich, Heizou, and Sethos With a Cat-Girl S/O

Kinich

Kinich’s S/O is protective of her cat-like features—whether it’s her ears, tail, or something else. At first, he finds it a bit curious but doesn’t press the matter, respecting her boundaries. Every time he tries to touch them or comes close, she playfully bats his hand away with a sly smile, though there’s a hint of shyness behind her teasing.

One day, when she’s feeling particularly relaxed or affectionate, she finally lets him pet her ears. Kinich, being naturally curious and gentle, takes the opportunity with the utmost care. To his surprise, as he strokes her, he notices her purring—soft at first, then louder as she leans into his touch, her entire demeanor shifting to something more feline. Her usual composure slips, and she melts into the affection.

His S/O quickly realizes she’s purring and tries to pull away, clearly embarrassed by how easily her feline instincts took over. She might blush or try to laugh it off, but Kinich is too fascinated by this adorable reaction to let it go. He finds her purring not just endearing, but something he wants to experience more often—though he won’t push her too much.

Kinich quickly realizes that he now holds the key to his S/O’s most vulnerable and cute side. He doesn’t abuse this knowledge, but he’ll occasionally use it to his advantage when he wants her to relax or get her out of a bad mood. He’ll gently stroke her ears or tail and watch as she becomes putty in his hands, purring despite her attempts to stay composed.

When she starts purring, her feline instincts really kick in—she might stretch out lazily, nuzzle against him, or even make little chirping sounds. Kinich finds this absolutely charming, and while he won’t admit it outright, he loves seeing her in this more carefree, vulnerable state. It’s a side of her no one else gets to see, and he feels honored she trusts him enough to let her guard down.

Kinich discovers her playful side by accident. Maybe one day, he’s using a magnifying glass or has a small laser pointer, and he catches her instinctively following the dot or light across the floor, completely unaware of what she’s doing. She’ll chase after it with focus and determination, her feline instincts fully taking over, while Kinich watches in silent amusement.

Once he learns about this little quirk, he can’t help but tease her every now and then. If she’s in a playful mood, he’ll whip out the laser pointer, moving it in random patterns across the floor or walls, watching her chase it with all the seriousness of a cat hunting prey. She might realize halfway through what she’s doing and stop abruptly, embarrassed, but Kinich will just smile at her fondly.

Whenever she seems stressed or tense, Kinich knows exactly what to do. He’ll gently start petting her animal features, coaxing out that soft purr that always seems to calm her down. Her worries melt away as her instincts take over, and Kinich takes quiet pleasure in knowing that he can make her feel so at ease.

No matter how many times it happens, his S/O will always get flustered after purring in his presence. She’ll try to maintain her cool, but Kinich loves seeing her soft side peek through her usually confident and composed exterior. He’s careful not to tease her too much, but his amused smirks and gentle jabs about her “feline side” never fail to make her blush.

When Kinich wants to playfully tease her, he might drop hints about her cat-like habits. “I wonder how well you’d do in a game of chase…” he’ll muse, before subtly pointing a laser near her. She might swat at him in protest, but deep down, she enjoys how much fun they have together with her feline tendencies.

Kinich eventually uses her feline instincts as a way to bond with her, understanding that while she might be embarrassed about it, it’s also part of who she is. He’ll indulge her playfulness, letting her chase the light or even play with soft objects when she’s in the mood. This helps create a deeper connection between them, as he embraces every side of her without judgment.

Despite her initial embarrassment, Kinich adores her feline quirks. He finds them endlessly charming and unique, never growing tired of the way her tail flicks or how her ears twitch when she’s focused or excited. Even when she tries to be serious, he knows that beneath her composed exterior is a playful cat ready to chase after something fun.

Heizou

Heizou, ever the sharp detective, noticed early on that his cat-girl S/O was particularly protective of her animal features. Whether it’s her ears or tail, she skillfully dodges his casual touches. This piques his curiosity, but Heizou doesn’t push—he enjoys a good mystery and patiently waits for the right moment to uncover why she’s so cautious.

One day, when she’s feeling especially comfortable and trusting, she finally allows Heizou to pet her ears. Heizou, being gentle and thoughtful, takes his time, observing her reaction with keen interest. As soon as he starts, she begins to purr, her usual cool composure slipping as she leans into his touch. The sound is soft at first, but as Heizou continues, her purring intensifies, and her feline instincts fully take over.

She quickly realizes what’s happening and pulls away, flustered and trying to regain her usual control. Her face heats up, and she tries to act like nothing happened, but Heizou finds it absolutely adorable. He can’t resist teasing her, flashing that knowing smile of his as he says something like, “I didn’t realize you were so easy to please…”

Now that Heizou knows her secret—that her feline instincts make her purr and slip into a more vulnerable state—he’s sure to use this knowledge to his advantage in a playful way. When she’s trying to act serious or independent, he might casually brush a finger along her ear or tail, just to see her reaction. He loves how quickly she melts into the affection, even if she tries to hide it.

Heizou quickly learns that his S/O purrs not just when she’s flustered but also when she’s content and relaxed. If she’s ever stressed or tired, he’ll gently pet her animal features, coaxing out that soft, soothing purr. It’s his secret technique to calm her down, and it works every time. She might protest at first, but she can’t resist the affection for long.

One day, Heizou is playing with a magnifying glass for some detective work, and he catches her instinctively chasing the dot of light across the room. She doesn’t even realize what she’s doing at first, so focused on catching it. Heizou watches in silent amusement, barely able to contain his laughter as his normally composed S/O displays such a cute, cat-like instinct.

After realizing this, Heizou makes it a little game. When she’s feeling playful or he’s in a teasing mood, he’ll whip out his magnifying glass and watch her chase the light. She’ll try to act like she’s above it, but eventually, her instincts kick in, and she’s darting after the light with the same focus she’d have in any serious situation. Heizou will make little comments like, “I guess you’re just too fast for me,” as she finally catches the light.

When she finally realizes what she’s doing, she’ll stop abruptly, trying to act like nothing happened. Heizou, ever the teasing boyfriend, will grin and say something like, “You’re full of surprises. I didn’t know you were so easily distracted,” with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

Heizou considers her feline quirks to be his secret weapon in keeping her happy. Whenever she’s in a grumpy or stubborn mood, he’ll gently pet her ears or play with the magnifying glass, knowing it’s the quickest way to see her let her guard down. He never takes it too far, though—he loves that she’s trusting enough to let him see this softer side of her.

Heizou finds immense joy in their playful dynamic. Her feline instincts, like chasing lights or purring under his touch, make their relationship more fun and lighthearted. It’s something only he gets to experience, and he treasures those moments when she lets her guard down completely around him.

Though he’s usually teasing, Heizou is also incredibly sweet when his S/O allows him to pet her. He loves the feeling of her relaxing in his arms, her soft purring filling the room. In those moments, he’s content to sit in silence, stroking her animal features and letting her feel completely at ease. It’s a special bond they share, one that makes him feel closer to her than anyone else.

Heizou is endlessly amused and charmed by her feline quirks. Whether it’s her purring or her instinct to chase after lights, he finds it all incredibly endearing. He loves that her quirks are something he gets to explore and play with, and he wouldn’t trade it for the world.

Heizou never misses a chance to playfully tease her about her cat-like nature. If she’s trying t be serious or tough, he might lean in and whisper, “I wonder what it would take to get you purring again,” with a wink. Though she’ll act annoyed, she secretly enjoys the attention and affection he gives her.

Sethos

Sethos, always observant, notices that his S/O is particularly guarded about her feline features. Whether it’s her ears or tail, she’s careful to keep them out of his reach. He’s intrigued by this, but he respects her boundaries, seeing it as another mystery to unravel over time. He enjoys the slow process of earning her trust.

After spending more time together and developing trust, there’s a moment when his cat-girl S/O finally allows Sethos to touch her ears or tail. Sethos, ever the calm and composed type, gently runs his fingers along them, fully expecting some kind of reaction. What he didn’t expect was for her to start purring, her usual composure slipping as she leans into his touch. Her feline instincts take over as she purrs uncontrollably, much to her own embarrassment.

The moment she realizes what she’s doing, she pulls away, her face flushed as she tries to act like nothing happened. Sethos finds it endlessly amusing, his lips curling into a smug smile as he softly chuckles, remarking something like, “I suppose even the most elusive creatures have their weaknesses.”

Now that Sethos knows her secret—that she purrs easily when receiving affection, especially when her animal features are involved—he’s quick to use this knowledge to his advantage. Whenever she’s trying to act serious or distant, he’ll gently touch her ears or tail, just to see her react. Her instant, unfiltered purring makes him smirk with satisfaction.

If his S/O ever feels stressed or overwhelmed, Sethos will quietly sit by her side, petting her ears or gently stroking her tail until the soft purring begins. It becomes his secret way of calming her down, and although she might protest at first, she can never resist the comfort of his touch for long.

One day, Sethos is fiddling with a small laser pointer, idly moving the light across the room. To his amusement, his S/O’s eyes lock onto the light, and before she realizes it, she’s chasing it around like a true cat. She’s completely focused on catching the little dot of light, oblivious to her surroundings as her feline instincts kick in.

Once he knows about her playful side, Sethos doesn’t hesitate to use it as a way to break her usual composure. If she’s ever being stubborn or overly serious, he’ll whip out the laser pointer, watching with a mischievous glint in his eyes as she chases it across the room. He finds it absolutely adorable, though he never teases her too much about it—just enough to enjoy her reaction.

The moment she realizes she’s been chasing the light like a cat, she stops in her tracks, flustered and trying to regain her composure. Sethos watches with an amused expression, letting out a low chuckle before commenting something like, “I didn’t know you could be so… playful.” His teasing tone is gentle, but it always leaves her blushing.

Knowing that her feline side makes her vulnerable to affection and playful distractions, Sethos uses it strategically. If she’s ever annoyed with him or trying to ignore him, he’ll either lightly pet her ears or dangle the laser pointer nearby. It never fails to get her attention, and it’s his secret way of winning her over in their little playful battles.

Despite his usual calm and chilled demeanor, Sethos has a soft spot for his S/O’s purring. He finds it incredibly endearing, and during their quiet moments together, he’ll absentmindedly stroke her ears or tail, listening to the rhythmic sound of her purrs. It’s a moment of vulnerability he cherishes, knowing it’s a side of her only he gets to see.

Sethos sees her feline quirks as a way to bring lightheartedness into their relationship. Her instinctual reactions, like purring or chasing the laser, give them both moments of laughter and joy. He values these moments as much as their deeper, more serious interactions, appreciating the balance they bring to their bond.

Sethos, ever the strategist, knows just when to bring out the laser pointer or offer her affectionate petting. Whether it’s to ease her tension or to gently tease her, he’s always mindful of the effect it has on her. It becomes a playful part of their dynamic, something that makes their relationship feel uniquely their own.

Masterlist

#kinich genshin #genshin impact kinich #genshin kinich #kinich #kinich x reader #shikanoin heizou #genshin heizou #heizou x reader #heizou shikanoin x reader #sethos x reader #genshin impact sethos #genshin sethos #sethos genshin #genshin impact #genshin #genshin x reader

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