Time and time again I’ve seen the Genshin community ignore issues in the game. “The game is free” “Just enjoy it” “Stop being ungrateful” I’ve heard all the excuses. Hopefully this video can serve as a warning to people who intend to try the game out, and a wake up call to a community that is complacent beyond belief.
Videos used in the intro (in order)
The Psychology of Loot Box Addiction by Game Domain
https://youtu.be/DD2EbapgUpU
Should you play Genshin Impact in 2021? by John Strife Hayes
https://youtu.be/VU7lk22UNwA
The Addictive Cost Of Predatory Videogame Monetization by Jim Sterling
https://youtu.be/7S-DGTBZU14
How Gacha Games Cause Gambling Addiction by Weebus Supremus
https://youtu.be/mRGJllCd6qc
Learn more about the ways gacha games get you to spend money here
How Gacha Games Trick Players Into Spending Thousands
https://youtu.be/wUrBlQaDkfM
Art used in the video was made by the following people
Lavelis (Beidou x Ningguang)
https://twitter.com/lavelis_twi
PieThePieGod (Jean x Lisa)
https://twitter.com/piethepiegod
qmg3l (Baal x yae)
https://twitter.com/qmg3l
Maiqo (Ganyu x Keqing)
https://twitter.com/_maiqo
Community run websites
Genshin.GG
https://genshin.gg/
Keqingmains
https://keqingmains.com/
Paimon.moe
https://paimon.moe/
Background Music by Karl Casey @ White Bat Audio
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_6hQy4elsyHhCOskZo0U5g
0:00 Opening
1:16 Intro
1:53 Why?
3:05 Important Points
3:56 Character And Weapon Gacha Banners
5:47 Resin
7:12 The Artifact System
10:01 Paying To Get An Advantage Or For Convenience
12:27 Blatantly Pay To Win
14:31 Important Nitpicks – Silent Protagonist
15:48 Important Nitpicks – Battle Pass
16:21 Important Nitpicks – Welkin Moon
18:03 Quickfire Round Of Annoying Things In The Game
20:35 Community ADHD
20:48 Shipping
21:43 Common Things People Of The Community Say – “Just appreciate what you have” / “You are ungrateful” / ” The game is free”
22:51 “Free to play players have no right to criticize the game”
24:24 Side note – “Players are too focused on meta characters and min-maxing”
24:45 “There is nothing wrong with paying to gain an advantage”
26:10 “This game is meant for casuals so these systems are fine”
27:42 Genshin Impact’s Identity Crisis
29:27 Tough Love
30:30 Conclusion
source
Wow this is really your most viewed video… Clearly riding the clout huh? Didn't last long tho.. next video 2 digit view.. maybe create more genshin video for views? I dont know.. lol 😂😂😂
This is just a theory, but I think the reason why Gachas took off so well isn't just because of gacha addiction but because Gacha companies are actively trying to fill in the gaps in the market.
Because before Genshin or other Gachas, what did gamers have? They still have f2p games and cash shop mechanics but they were mostly in either mobile games or MMOs. And trust me, a LOT of them are so much worse, from being obsessed to point you to their shops, to boring gameplay loops to blatant power creep, endless level grind etc All of it was so much worse in korean MMOs, regular MMOs and mobile games.
And then Genshin and other Gachas come in with slightly less grind, with "pity systems" and with way more interesting looking gameplay than your average mobile game, I mean mobile games are so down bad they have A F K GENRE NOW, WTF?!? 😂
That's not a defense of gatchas btw, I personally don't play em, not sure exactly why, but maybe it's because of my experience with one mobile game called PvZ2 and how, even though it's decline felt weaker aka you just needed to do arena, dailies and penny pursuit and I MAY have gotten further if I just stuck around but I asked myself "why"?
Even since Popcap stopped releasing new worlds and added arena I slowly stopped enjoying the game and it felt like a second job, it's like being a student/wagie but you don't even get knowledge or currency for your suffering. So I just… Left. I couldn't justify doing this man, it was so annoying, so bland felt like my soul got sucked by that mobile game, so I uninstalled the app for last time and never looked back(even if I had sunbloom cuz Popcap removed him from gemerald pool, but nah screw em)
I also had some experience with MMOs, and here's the thing, I'd argue I played one of the BEST of them, Dragon Nest, sht is FIRAH but even that felt predatory cuz they did have pay2win item, then after several years I stumbled upon private EU community servers that recreate dragon next 1 to 1 up to 80 or 90 lvl cap, and it felt amazing, but even though those servers removed ALL pay2win crap, I still started experiencing same issue of *grinding*, sure I could be 1000h+ gamer to perfectly learn boss patterns to dodge flawlessly so I wouldn't need better gear but like, it's near unrealistic due to my laggy pc and due to the important bosses and events being weekly at best, so I felt like I just doing a second job again so I left, again. Not sure if I'll come back to that one, but I'll definitely won't come back to regular MMOs. So that's what I think is happening.
One thing I forgoe to mention is that MMOs experienced this weird phenomenon where most players started playing solo, even though the whole appeal of MMOs was about community content not solo… And look at 90% of gachas, they're solo experiences, so Gachas are basically tapping into the mmo market of solo players and mobile market which desperately needed better games.
Hence WHY you see people defend Hoyo and others so hard, it's legitimately the best experiences they had. Also one funny coincidence or evidence is that, Asmongold used to be MMORPG player… And guess which game genre he eventually started playing, it starts with G 😂
Edit: Last piece of evidence, in order for many games to take off they need to have atleast some starting loyal fanbase then they use said fanbase to get the casual player. And guess where gachas are SUPER popular? In Japan and Korea two countries INFAMOUS for grindy af MMORPG games. No wonder they simp so hard for Genshin cuz average korean mmo is like 100 MILLION percent more grindy, more unfair, you basically look and play like a peasant without spending atleast something, but in Genshin they are basically Gods.
wdym just farm enough primos for a pity every banner… You don't need all the waifus I promise just use the wolf guy he's really good
Well this aged
I have been burned by Gacha mechanics to the point where I quit the game. Genshin is one of them and the last game where I finally tapped out. How can game companies especially Gacha. Be so evil? Seriously it’s awful.
I really don't play anymore games now except on weekends sometimes I'm still to late to stop (I'm 19) I play genshin for only 15 minutes on daily basis and sometimes 40 minutes on weekends if there is event or new quests. It's better to play just for enjoyment unless you don't want to start a earning by being a creator. life is a lot better than doing 100% exploration on every region but it isn't worth your time (I did it once but I won't anymore) JUST enjoy the gameplay and storyline till it doesn't affect you mentally.
I've been playing Genshin since week one and despite how much I genuinely love playing this game, I will never disagree with this sentiment – Genshin Impact is a GACHA and by extension, gambling. Even if it didn't accept real-life currency, it would still be gambling by definition, just not the kind that affects your wallet.
I love Genshin Impact, but honest to god, if you have any bit of an addictive personality, I do NOT recommend it. I personally am able to hold back and enjoy the game for what it is, I periodically spend on the Welkin Moon, maybe once every three months, and basically consider it my "subscription" kinda like other MMOs such as WoW. And sometimes I've gone a year without even touching the store, even for Welkin.
I also don't get angry when I fail a 50/50 – in my mindset, this character will re-run later and I only have a few characters I even really want in the first place, so I don't mind skipping a bunch of banners. But to some people, even people who avoid spending, this is undeniably anger inducing.
My boyfriend technically got me into Genshin, and he dropped it within a few months because he just couldn't handle the sheer anger and disappointment he'd get when failing a 50/50.
Genshin IS predatory and it's monetization SUCKS as most monetization in games does. I love Genshin but I am a very specific kind of person – someone who isn't affected by the fomo, isn't bothered by 50/50 loss, and doesn't mind the very blocked grind the game has. But if you are NOT this kinda person, you at risk of either losing your money or your sanity.
All of these games incentivize "content creators" to be whales. It needs to go.
I love the video as someone who's currently AR 56 and has spent money on the game.
Though, those bundle packs are absolutely NOT the main source of mora and EXP books. I'm surprised you didn't mention quests at all. I haven't ever felt the need to buy those overpriced bundles tbh.
Bro eleven when I was a brain rot dumbass I looked at this saw free was like “awesome” then starting seeing wait I can’t get this without money and responded with a “da fuck! I can’t play solidly without goddamn money!”
Any gacha game is a crap stain on the underwear of gaming. I despise them. All they are is casinos disguised as jrpgs.
I think I’ve spent a little over 1000$ in the span of 3 years but honestly no regrets. I’m not a gamer and I only play mobile games to pass the time to and from work and as long as I’m having fun, I don’t really mind spending a few times to support the devs
12:47 there's so much that can be discussed and argued about, but you completely lost me here and here exactly; this just shows that you've done zero to none research before making this statement
For reference:
Xiangling
Bennett
Sucrose
Xingqiu
Fischl
Same goes for weapons:
The Catch
Favonius/Sacrificial series
All of these were available during the creation of this video; they were and remain among the strongest, most easily obtainable characters/items in the game, while being 4*s; we had events where we could get them for free too (and Xiangling was always free basically from the start)
Just to expand further (since you actually mentioned Xiangling, yet downplayed her potential in the worst ways possible):
– put The Catch on her (completely free with refines)
– use emblem set (doesn't even matter if u get wrong substats, just stick to the good main stat for start)
– pair her with Bennett, who needs zero to none investment
– you get a duo who can easily clear spiral abyss with almost no effort
Further improvements on artifacts just make you spend less time on clearing the enemies. You already can do the spiral abyss with just those steps most of the time.
This video aged pretty well.
And I have one story, in short:
Went into this game in 3.2 (7th pf November 2022) and left in 4.7 (8th of June 2024, recent). Don't ask why I still remember the dates.
Throughout this "adventure" I had a pretty much issues with this game, especially in winter of 2022 (in my country were severe power outages due to war). Game was fun up until that moment when it became so grindy. But I ate it up and continued.
And only when power outages have returned recently (but not so severe) it was a bit wake-up call for me and I left. Bought DRG and I regret nothing.
I have a comet-type relationship with Genshin. I get really into it for a few months, then I stop playing for ages (6 months to a year) then I come back, then I stop playing again.
I’m currently really into it.
I fully acknowledge it is a shit game.
I haven’t spent a single dime on it and I am proud of that fact.
Good video I agree with a lot of what you said, I mean I hate a lot of what the company does but I do really enjoy Genshin, Literally skipped Tears of the Kingdom because I like Genshin More I would love a less predatory genshin if I could get it.
Heck its currently my favorite game but I just wish it didn't do a lot of the things it does.
But I genuinely still enjoy playing. but thank you for the video.
Also I am actually a fan of Paimon getting to voice more then the Travler but I wish the Traveler did get more voice lines like in their character voice stuff.
Played it for a bit, spent a shit ton of money, then stopped because my phone broke and I forgot the password. I regret spending money on the game, and honestly it wasn’t worth it. The dopamine rush was there, but then having to farm for a shit ton of stats became boring and annoying, I don’t like genshin anymore. It wasn’t worth the money I spent, and I would’ve slapped myself before purchasing the in game currency.
i've kept my f2p status for my entire journey of genshin, because i got used to roblox, and the rest we can understand
Yes I’m a genshin impact fan, but I’m not gonna defend the whole wishing system that is making people addicted-
this is why I started to like Honkai star rail more, they give more rewards and the community is ok
And i remember when genshins fan review bombed genshin which i guess might be fair cuz of the rewards but they review bombed RANDOM apps and loved games for absolutely NO REASON
Aged like wine
27:30 2 years, that's how long it took
harsh but truthful if all peoples adapted this way of thinking everything would come easier, and we would never see billionaires and whale and poor as well as smart and idiots.
I hope that genshin gets a full standalone release. Where characters are earned through their story quest, you can customise artifacts and alot of other stuff fixed. It would be the perfect game.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I love Genshin Impact I won't lie. The art, the music the story telling. But you are completely right. I am completely free to play but I NEVER, never recommend the game. Maybe only to my boyfriend but I also know him very well.
The game is predatory as hell and if there was a Genshin without gambling I'd leave Genshin immediately. You heard me game developers, get on it. I'll even pay 60$ for an entry fee.
Hellow
i thought genshin impact was ped0ph1l1c by the title 💀
Lol hearing you say two years ago what if a game challenges genshin….
The prophecy of wuwa lol
Okay but how else would the company get their money?
You're basically saying you shouldn't be held accountable for your decisions which is utterly childish. If people are reckless, that's their own fault. Learn to think for yourself and learn to weigh risk to reward. Simple as that. I don't even plan Genshin. This is simply a fact you need to acknowledge with any purchases you make. No one is going to hold your hand in life. You need to adapt and learn.
HOLD YOURSELF ACCOUNTABLE for YOUR own decisions.
Also if you think a certain company does unethical things, don't give them money? Hello? Vote with your wallet. Luxury products self regulate like this. If the customers as a whole don't like the product, the business will go under all on its own.
Dude are you a teenager or something? I'm not even sure what your aim is here but its just you cussing and insulting the viewer constantly, the beggining "come back once you grow a pair" is unbelievably immature and isn't going to convince anyone, I know this is 2 years ago but grow up, jesus.