Launched in September 2020, Genshin Impact quickly became a global phenomenon. It captivated millions with its stunning open world, elemental combat system, and gacha mechanics. Now, in late 2025, the game enters its sixth year with version 6.0 updates rolling out. One might expect miHoYo (now HoYoverse) to have ironed out the kinks that have frustrated players since day one. Yet, core issues remain unresolved.
From neglected legacy content to grindy mechanics that feel archaic, Genshin continues to prioritize monetization over meaningful improvements. This article dives into why the game is still fundamentally flawed. It also explains why it is unlikely to ever truly get better.
Neglected Legacy: No Meaningful Buffs for Old Characters
One of the most glaring signs of Genshin's stagnation is its treatment of older characters. Five years in, many launch-era units like Diluc, Keqing, or even mid-game additions remain underpowered compared to newer releases. There are no substantial buffs to bring them up to par. While leaks suggest minor tweaks for a handful, such as Albedo, Eula, Klee, and Mona in version 6.0, these are exceptions rather than the rule. They often tie to new story beats or synergies rather than broad balancing. The vast majority of the roster languishes. It gets overshadowed by powercreep that makes pulling for fresh faces almost mandatory.
This isn't just about nostalgia. It is a design choice that erodes player investment. Veterans who built teams around early characters find them irrelevant in endgame modes like the Spiral Abyss. Enemy stats have ballooned there without corresponding adjustments to legacy kits. The funny thing is that their sister games Honkai: Star Rail and Zenless Zone Zero have proactively updated older units. Yet Genshin drags its feet. This leaves players to wonder if their favorites will ever see the light of day again.
Stingy Rewards and Event Disappointments
Events in Genshin have always been a mixed bag. However, five years later, the rewards feel increasingly underwhelming. Players routinely complain about "poor rewards" that don't match the time invested. Events offer meager Primogems, Mora, or materials that barely scratch the surface of progression needs. Even high-profile occasions like the annual Lantern Rite or anniversary celebrations provide just enough free pulls (around 20-30) to tease but not satisfy. This pushes free-to-play users toward spending.
Worse, events often vanish quickly. They lock out rewards for those who can't log in daily or during specific windows. This creates a sense of FOMO (fear of missing out) that is more punishing than engaging. It is especially true when compared to competitors offering more generous, permanent content. The pattern suggests HoYoverse views events as short-term hooks rather than player-friendly features. This mindset is unlikely to shift given the game's revenue model.
Quality-of-Life Nightmares: Tedious Dailies and Inconvenient Systems
Genshin's refusal to modernize basic interactions is baffling in 2025. Players still must manually teleport to an Adventurer's Guild NPC like Katheryne to claim daily commission rewards. This is a relic from launch that wastes time and feels archaic. Why no auto-claim or remote access after five years? Similarly, crafting benches remain tied to city locations or the Serenitea Pot. This requires unnecessary teleports just to forge items.
Artifact management saw a long-overdue update with custom loadouts in version 5.7. However, even this feels half-baked. Players call it "janky" and insufficient, with limitations that don't fully address the RNG-heavy grind. Event-limited 4-star weapons like Festering Desire and Cinnabar Spindle, once hailed as accessible power boosts, never rerun. This locks new players out of optimal builds and frustrates veterans who missed them. These oversights scream of a game that prioritizes new monetized content over fixing foundational annoyances.
The Endless Grind: Materials, RNG, and Time-Gated Frustration
Perhaps Genshin's most soul-crushing aspect is its material grind, unchanged since inception. Local specialties and elite boss drops respawn every 48 real-world hours. This forces players to log in repeatedly or wait days. These are often spread across vast maps that demand tedious traversal. Multiple material types compound this. Boss drops are plagued by RNG that can extend farming indefinitely. You might need dozens of runs for a single usable gem or talent book.
Domains for talents and weapons are still locked to specific days of the week. This means if you pull a new character on the "wrong" day, you are stalled for up to 72 hours before farming begins. This artificial gating feels punitive, especially for casual players. It ignores calls to remove restrictions. In an era where games like Star Rail offer more flexible progression, Genshin's grind remains a relic that drains enjoyment without adding depth.
Endgame Woes: HP Bloat, Powercreep, and Forced Synergies
Endgame content, particularly the Spiral Abyss and new modes like Imaginarium Theater or Stygian Onslaught, suffers from rampant HP bloat. Enemies have inflated health pools that turn battles into DPS checks rather than strategic engagements. This "difficulty" spike has accelerated dramatically. HP inflation from versions 5.0 to 5.8 exceeds the entire jump from 1.0 to 5.0.
Compounding this is aggressive powercreep, where newer characters outclass older ones. This forces pulls to stay competitive. Worse, recent designs emphasize synergies. A new DPS often requires specific supports from the same banner or region (e.g., Natlan's tribal mechanics). This means one pull isn't enough. You need the full package to make it "work." This monetization tactic erodes free-to-play viability. It turns endgame into a paywall disguised as progression.
Why Genshin Will Never Truly Improve
These issues aren't bugs. They are features of a system built around endless monetization. HoYoverse rakes in billions from gacha, with little incentive to overhaul grindy mechanics or buff old content. New banners drive revenue when old content gets neglected. Player feedback on outdated systems piles up. Yet changes come slowly or inadequately, as seen with the delayed and criticized artifact loadouts. As competitors like Wuthering Waves or Star Rail innovate with better QoL and balance, Genshin clings to its formula. This alienates veterans while hooking newcomers. Five years later, it is clear: meaningful reform isn't coming. If you're still playing, enjoy the visuals. However, don't hold your breath for a better game.