Genshin Impact has offered small events with elements of competition between players in the past, akin to party games, and Genius Invocation TCG, but never proper duels between two or more players. So, finally committing to introducing a dedicated PvP game mode in Genshin Impact could be a natural progression for the game.
However, even though a PvP game mode wouldn’t be too out of place in a combat-driven game such as Genshin Impact, there are two valid sides to the argument of whether this should be added to the game. Overall, adding a PvP game mode could be a welcome addition to the game for future updates for Genshin Impact to consider, but if it disrupts the game’s current experience, then it might be for the best for Genshin Impact to keep its PvP limited to friendly competitions instead of full-on duels.
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Arguments For a PvP Game Mode in Genshin Impact
- PvP game modes can give players new ways to play between major updates and events
- PvP could inspire more diversity in Genshin Impact’s meta
One of the main appeals of introducing a PvP game mode to Genshin Impact is that, regardless of how rewarding this game mode is, it could help with the game’s longevity after the ongoing Archon questline of the Teyvat Chapter concludes. More specifically, PvP could give players a timeless activity to engage with between the release of new events and updates for Genshin Impact.
Another reason why PvP could shine in Genshin Impact is that it could shake up the existing meta. Players have recently been calling for a rework of the Cryo Element in Genshin Impact, mainly due to criticisms of the Freeze and Shatter Elemental reactions not being effective against bosses and major enemies. However, a permanent Freeze team composition in Genshin Impact could be quite powerful in a PvP setting. The same applies to the Geo Element, whereas the Crystallize Elemental reaction is often considered underwhelming in PvE, but PvP game modes could give new life to this and other off-meta team compositions.
Leaks suggest that Genshin Impact could be rebalancing Elemental reactions in the 5.2 update, namely Superconduct, Shatter, Electro-Charged, and Overload.
Arguments Against a PvP Game Mode in Genshin Impact
- PvP could lead to unwanted PvE balancing changes
- Introducing and maintaining PvP game modes could hinder Genshin Impact’s update release schedule
- PvP raises pay-to-win concerns
While balancing a PvP game mode could lead to reworks for off-meta characters in Genshin Impact that are arguably long overdue, it’s just as likely that balancing a PvP game mode could lead to nerfs of popular meta characters, negatively affecting their performance in PvE. For the players who aren’t interested in PvP, these kinds of nerfs would be a cause for controversy.
Apart from balancing concerns affecting the PvE meta, another argument against adding a dedicated PvP game mode to Genshin Impact is that it would presumably take away resources from developing new PvE content. Genshin Impact has a reputation for releasing large-scale updates on a consistent and generously frequent schedule, so disrupting this schedule could lead to backlash from the community, especially if it’s to introduce and maintain a niche game mode that might not resonate with the game’s community in the long term.
Lastly, and perhaps the biggest concern, PvP in Genshin Impact naturally risks being a pay-to-win controversy waiting to happen. New characters in Genshin Impact are constantly setting new standards for the latest meta, except with the game’s current focus on a casual and balanced PvE experience, players can overcome most if not all challenges as a free-to-play Genshin Impact player. However, as a gacha game, introducing PvP to Genshin Impact would put pressure on players to spend money on pulling the latest characters just to have a fighting chance.
Genshin Impact
-
OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 81 /100 Critics Rec: 87%
- Released
- September 28, 2020
- ESRB
- Teen / Alcohol Reference, Fantasy Violence, In-Game Purchases (Includes Random Items), Users Interact
- Developer(s)
- HoYoverse (Formerly miHoYo)
- Publisher(s)
- HoYoverse (Formerly miHoYo)
WHERE TO PLAY
Step into Teyvat, a vast world teeming with life and flowing with elemental energy.
You and your sibling arrived here from another world. Separated by an unknown god, stripped of your powers, and cast into a deep slumber, you now awake to a world very different from when you first arrived.
Thus begins your journey across Teyvat to seek answers from The Seven — the gods of each element. Along the way, prepare to explore every inch of this wondrous world, join forces with a diverse range of characters, and unravel the countless mysteries that Teyvat holds...
MASSIVE OPEN WORLD
Climb any mountain, swim across any river, and glide over the world below, taking in the jaw-dropping scenery each step of the way. And if you stop to investigate a wandering Seelie or strange mechanism, who knows what you might discover?
ELEMENTAL COMBAT SYSTEM
Harness the seven elements to unleash elemental reactions. Anemo, Electro, Hydro, Pyro, Cryo, Dendro, and Geo interact in all sorts of ways, and Vision wielders have the power to turn this to their advantage.
Will you vaporize Hydro with Pyro, electro-charge it with Electro, or freeze it with Cryo? Your mastery of the elements will give you the upper hand in battle and exploration.
BEAUTIFUL VISUALS
Feast your eyes on the world around you, with a stunning art style, real-time rendering, and finely tuned character animations delivering you a truly immersive visual experience. Lighting and weather all change naturally over time, bringing every detail of this world to life.
SOOTHING SOUNDTRACK
Let the beautiful sounds of Teyvat draw you in as you explore the expansive world around you. Performed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra, the soundtrack changes seamlessly with the time and gameplay to match the mood.
BUILD YOUR DREAM TEAM
Team up with a diverse cast of characters in Teyvat, each with their own unique personalities, stories, and abilities. Discover your favorite party combinations and level up your characters to help you conquer even the most daunting of enemies and domains.
JOURNEY WITH FRIENDS
Team up with friends across various platforms to trigger more elemental action, tackle tricky boss fights, and conquer challenging domains together to reap rich rewards.
As you stand atop the peaks of Jueyun Karst and take in the rolling clouds and vast terrain stretching out before you, you may wish to stay in Teyvat a little longer... But until you are reunited with your lost sibling, how can you rest? Go forth, Traveler, and begin your adventure!
- Engine
- Unity
- Multiplayer
- Online Co-Op
- Cross-Platform Play
- All platforms
- Cross Save
- All platforms
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC, iOS, Android
- Genre(s)
- RPG, Action, Adventure, Gacha, Open-World
- X|S Optimized
- yes
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
