Genshin Impact's Third Anniversary Draws Mixed Reactions: Fans Express Discontent with Events and Rewards

The immensely popular open-world gacha game, Genshin Impact, is rapidly approaching its third anniversary on September 28. However, some fans are feeling less than thrilled due to what they perceive as lackluster events and rewards. While Genshin Impact, HoYoverse's flagship title, offers players an expansive and enchanting gaming experience in a fantastical world unlike any other gacha game, it's not without its drawbacks.

Unlike many other gacha games that shower their players with abundant rewards during anniversary celebrations, Genshin Impact has developed a reputation for being somewhat stingier in this regard. The discontent began during Genshin Impact's first anniversary when fans were disappointed with the underwhelming rewards and events that seemed more like thinly veiled attempts to promote the game rather than genuinely engaging and rewarding experiences for players. This frustration even led some players to express their displeasure by review-bombing the game. Fast forward two years since that inaugural anniversary, and it appears that the dynamics between HoYoverse and Genshin Impact's fanbase regarding anniversary festivities have seen little improvement.

On September 15, HoYoverse hosted a Twitch stream to unveil the details of Genshin Impact's third-anniversary event and rewards, as well as what's in store for version 4.1. The event, titled "Bathing in the Flowing Moonlight", offers rewards including 1,600 primogems, 4 fragile resins, a new companion called IttyBitty Octobaby, and a portable aerodynamic gelatinous bubble generator that players can claim through in-game mail. Regrettably, these upcoming offerings closely resemble those of the past two years, which left many players feeling dissatisfied.

To address this, Genshin Impact players have the option to redeem codes for additional rewards, though some fans consider this insufficient. Following the Twitch livestream, numerous fans voiced their disappointment on social media platforms. Some expressed the desire for Genshin Impact to adopt a more generous approach, akin to its predecessor, Honkai Impact 3rd, while others called for the introduction of a free character.

Ultimately, the level of generosity during these events rests in HoYoverse's hands, just as it is up to players to decide whether they want to invest their time and money in the game. Despite the recurring disappointment with this year's anniversary event and rewards, many Genshin Impact fans have found solace in showcasing profile pictures of new and upcoming characters like Neuvillette, Wriothesley and the rumored NPC Furina, who may soon become playable.