Alexander "peter bjorn" Fadin
The Genshin Impact community is no stranger to drama, and the recent introduction of Varesa, a new five-star character from the Natlan region, has sparked yet another wave of heated discussions.
Following previous controversies over characters like Chasca and Mavuika, who were criticized for their modern designs that clashed with the game's fantasy setting, Varesa has become the latest lightning rod for criticism. Players have taken issue with her revealing outfit, cow-themed aesthetic, and perceived reliance on fanservice to attract attention.
Varesa’s character concept draws inspiration from luchadores—Mexican wrestlers known for their flamboyant personas and wrestling moves. Accordingly, her animations feature exaggerated movements, including one where she lands on her backside during attacks. Her design incorporates cow horns, ears, and motifs, a nod to her gluttonous personality and love for food, as emphasized by fellow character Mavuika. However, this playful and quirky design has left many players feeling uneasy, particularly due to its overtly suggestive elements.
Community Reactions to Varesa’s Design
Players have expressed mixed feelings about Varesa, with criticism focusing on two main issues: her revealing outfit and the apparent prioritization of fanservice over meaningful character development. Some argue that her design feels out of place in the otherwise fantastical world of Teyvat, while others feel that her portrayal undermines the seriousness of Natlan, a region themed around war and survival.
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One Reddit user, u/GraveXNull, pointed out that the backlash isn’t about her plus-size figure but rather the overall execution of her design:
No one complains that she’s plus-size. All the complaints are about the other aspects of her design.
Another user, u/utsu31, elaborated on the broader trend they’ve observed in miHoYo’s games:
It’s not that I dislike fanservice outright. Sometimes I enjoy it. The problem is when fanservice becomes the primary selling point for these characters. With Varesa, there’s hardly any depth or interesting marketing beyond her revealing outfit. Even her ultimate ability feels soulless because the fanservice is so blatant.
Criticism has also extended to the weapons and combat styles of Natlan characters, which some players find overly comedic and inconsistent with the region’s warlike theme. A commenter, u/RainObserver5, voiced their frustration:
How can you take this war-torn nation seriously when their weapons include inflatable toys, arcade-style blasters, DJ equipment, oversized flying cannons, pillows, and even a flying motorcycle? And then you tell me someone is using their butt to attack enemies? It’s hard to see this as anything but a joke.
Comparisons to Zenless Zone Zero
The controversy surrounding Varesa has drawn comparisons to miHoYo’s other title, Zenless Zone Zero, which has faced similar criticism for its emphasis on fanservice. Several characters in Zenless Zone Zero have been described as "otaku bait," leading some players to accuse miHoYo of adopting a formulaic approach to character design across its games.
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One player, u/leadshot747, lamented the growing trend:
It feels like every new character lately is designed to appeal to a certain demographic. Before, we’d get one fanservice-heavy character every few updates, which was fine. But now, it feels like every new addition is just there to make players spend money based on how provocative they look.
Others have expressed disappointment over Varesa occupying the five-star banner slot originally intended for Iansan, a dark-skinned character teased earlier in the lore. For players like u/Vvvv1rgo, this decision felt like a missed opportunity:
As a fan of Iansan, I was really looking forward to seeing more representation for darker-skinned characters in Natlan. Instead, we got a random white girl with a terrible design that exists solely to highlight her hips and chest. She wasn’t even mentioned in the tribe’s chronicles until recently.
Defending Varesa’s Design
While the majority of feedback has been negative, some players have defended Varesa’s design, arguing that it fits her playful and energetic personality. One commenter, u/Gaekiki_3749, acknowledged the criticisms but maintained that the design itself isn’t inherently bad:
I wouldn’t call the design outright terrible, but the animations are definitely cringeworthy. She’s literally a cow-themed fanservice character, and there’s no denying that. Attacking people with her butt? Seriously?
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Despite the polarizing reactions, it’s clear that Varesa’s inclusion has reignited debates about the balance between creativity and commercial appeal in character design.
What’s Next for Varesa and Natlan?
Players will soon have the chance to experience Varesa firsthand when she and Iansan join the game in Version 5.5, set to release on March 26. Whether her gameplay mechanics and story integration will win over skeptics remains to be seen. For now, the controversy serves as a reminder of the challenges developers face in catering to diverse audiences while maintaining a cohesive narrative and aesthetic.
As the Genshin Impact community continues to grow and evolve, so too will the discussions surrounding its characters. Will miHoYo address these concerns in future updates, or will the trend of prioritizing fanservice persist? Only time will tell.
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