Genshin Impact Under Fire: Petition Demands Cultural Respect from MiHoYo

In the world of gaming, few titles have exploded onto the scene quite like Genshin Impact. But in 2026, the miHoYo-developed sensation finds itself in the hot seat once again, not for its gacha rates or resin system, but for its handling of cultural representation. A major petition has been blowing up online, demanding the company step up its game and ditch the cultural appropriation and whitewashing. The movement has gained serious momentum, racking up tens of thousands of signatures as players call for change before the next major region drops.

The Petition: By the Numbers

The call to action is hosted on Change.org, and the numbers are speaking for themselves. Let's break it down:

Metric	Count
Current Signatures	60,915+ (and climbing fast!)
Today's Signatures	A whopping 16,042 in just 24 hours
Signature Goal	75,000

The petition is seriously close to hitting its target, which would officially require miHoYo to respond. The core demand? For the "Tech Otakus Save the World" company to finally commit to respectful and accurate cultural representation across all its games, starting with Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail. The community isn't just asking for a vague promise; they want concrete action.

What's the Beef? A History of Controversy

This isn't miHoYo's first rodeo with this kind of backlash. Players have been side-eyeing the character designs for a minute now, especially when it comes to regions inspired by real-world cultures.

• The Sumeru Saga: The release of the Sumeru region, which draws heavily from Middle Eastern and South Asian cultures, was a major flashpoint. Critics pointed out that the vast majority of playable characters from this diverse region had notably light skin tones. This felt like a classic case of whitewashing, erasing the rich melanin diversity of the cultures being referenced. Characters like the merchant Dori also faced heat for allegedly leaning into harmful, money-obsessed stereotypes.

• Name Pronunciation Drama: Remember the whole thing about changing character name pronunciations to be more "Western-friendly"? Yeah, that didn't sit well with a lot of fans either, who saw it as cultural dilution.

• Looking Ahead to Natlan & Penacony: The petition is gaining steam now because players are worried history will repeat itself. The upcoming Natlan region in Genshin Impact is heavily inspired by Indigenous Mesoamerican cultures, and the Penacony world in Honkai: Star Rail has its own distinct cultural inspirations. The community is saying, "Not this time, miHoYo."

The Community's Demands: No More Lip Service

The petition lays out a clear roadmap for miHoYo. It's not just about complaining; it's about demanding tangible steps toward improvement:

1. Collaborate with the Experts: miHoYo needs to bring in actual indigenous cultural consultants and experts. Game development should involve the people whose stories are being told.

2. Conduct a Content Audit: The company must meticulously review its existing in-game content for authenticity and harmful stereotypes. This means looking back at Sumeru, Mondstadt, Liyue—the whole Teyvat.

3. A Pledge for the Future: Most importantly, miHoYo must publicly pledge to create a future roster of characters that is genuinely diverse, respectful, and inclusive. This is about getting it right from the start with Natlan and beyond.

The message is clear: representation matters. In an industry that reaches a global audience, getting culture wrong isn't just a minor oopsie—it perpetuates stereotypes and does real harm.

Why This Time Feels Different

The gaming landscape in 2026 is not the same as it was a few years ago. Players are more informed, more connected, and less willing to let things slide for the sake of a cool elemental burst animation. Social media amplifies these conversations at lightning speed. What might have been a niche forum discussion years ago is now a global trending topic with the power to impact a company's reputation. The sheer speed at which this petition is gaining signatures—over 16k in a single day—shows this is a priority issue for a massive chunk of the player base.

So, what's next? The ball is firmly in miHoYo's court. Will they listen to this loud and clear feedback from their community and take meaningful steps to do better? Or will they offer a generic PR response and hope it blows over? As the signature count ticks toward 75,000, all eyes are on the developer. The community has laid down the gauntlet; now it's time to see if miHoYo will pick it up. One thing's for sure: the days of ignoring these concerns are over. Gamers are watching, and they're ready to hold even their favorite titles accountable. It's a whole new era, and authentic representation is non-negotiable.

Expert commentary is drawn from Game Developer (formerly Gamasutra), a long-running industry publication that often explores best practices around cultural consultancy, narrative authenticity, and community trust—topics that directly intersect with the current Genshin Impact petition calling for audits, expert collaboration, and clearer representation commitments ahead of new region launches.