The global user base of the Chinese original game, “Genshin Impact,” has surpassed 100 million, and the game has topped multiple global app stores in several countries and regions. In 2021, “Genshin Impact” was selected as a national cultural export project by the China Ministry of Commerce, and in December of the same year, it won the “Game of the Year” award at the TGA (The Game Awards), often referred to as “the Oscars of gaming.” This year, “Genshin Impact” won nominations for the “Player’s Choice” award and two more awards: “Best Mobile Game” and “Best Longevity Game.”
Along with the game’s success, its music has also gained significant recognition. In 2022, “Liyue,” “Meditation in White Snow,” and “Swift as Fire” among others, were included in the Beijing Winter Olympics musical library. As of now, six “Genshin Impact” live concerts have amassed over 28 million views on Bilibili and nearly 30 million views on the English YouTube channel.
This phenomenon-level game not only promotes Chinese classical music to the global market, showcasing contemporary Chinese elements to a younger audience worldwide, but also through the creation of music from various regions, allowing different cultural groups to experience the same music from different perspectives. Recently, Xinhong News contacted and interviewed five musicians, discussing the behind-the-scenes story of the popularity of “Genshin Impact” music.
“Genshin Impact” is not just a game
“I’m Drawn to the Game by the Music”
Italian game composer Alex Murciano told Xinhong News, “Good music attracts me to play a game. If the music is so good, then the game’s story and world must be very captivating!” He exclaimed, “I believe that Hoyo-Mix, the music team of Genshin Impact’s own company, has done a very good job. They have made this game more well-known.”
Former opera singer Marco Camarotta from the United States stated during an interview with Xinhong News, “When I first arrived in Liyue in the game, I was overwhelmed by the background music. Seeing the mountain scenery inspired by Zhangjiajie, the sun rising, it felt ‘real’.” He believes that “Liyue” is a love letter to Chinese culture, and the music from “Genshin Impact” has expanded the influence of Chinese culture.
At 27, Fengling, a Chinese music professional, currently working as a translator in cross-border work, noticed that overseas Chinese always have a sense of incompleteness regarding the annual “Sea Lamp Festival” activities in the game. She shared her experience from this year’s Chinese New Year: “All the music in Liyue was cheerful. My mother and I listened together and both found it enjoyable. Previously, she was not interested in this game, but after listening to the music, she became more concerned about updates.”
Exploring “The Sound of Culture”
Chinese Musicians Explain Cross-Cultural Harmony
The depiction of China’s Liyue region in the game left a deep impression on Marco. He mentioned that when he first visited this region, the background music made him continuously express his amazement. He saw the mountain scenery inspired by Zhangjiajie and felt it was “real.” He believes that “Liyue” is a love letter to Chinese culture, and the music from “Genshin Impact” has expanded the influence of Chinese culture.
Alex told the reporter, “Perhaps because Liyue represents Chinese culture. Moreover, hearing a game’s soundtrack with so many Chinese instruments is very rare! I really enjoy discovering this ‘voice of culture’ while playing the game.” After exploring Liyue, Alex began incorporating more Chinese instruments into his own compositions.
Alex highly commended the Hoyo-Mix music team, praising their unique ability to research other cultures and reinterpret them through their own perspectives. Alex appreciates this team’s respect for different regional cultures, which has also made him more interested in learning about the works of Chinese composers.
Black Iris, who graduated from the Modern Composition and Production program at the Berklee College of Music, currently works as a music producer. She said, “While the technical and interactive aspects of the music from ‘Genshin Impact’ may not have revolutionary breakthrough