The global user base of China’s original game, “Genshin Impact,” has surpassed one billion, and the game has topped multiple global app store charts. In 2021, “Genshin Impact” was selected as a National Cultural Export Project by the Ministry of Commerce of China, and later that year, December, it won the “Game of the Year” award at the TGA (The Game Awards), the “Oscars” of the gaming world. This year, the game received nominations for the “Player Voice” award and “Best Mobile Game” and “Best Continuous Operation Game.”
Along with the game’s success, the music from “Genshin Impact” has also gained significant traction. In 2022, tracks such as “Liyue,” “Meditation in White Ash,” and “Swift as Fire” were included in the Beijing Winter Olympics music library. To date, six “Genshin Impact” online concert videos on Bilibili have garnered over 28 million views, while on the YouTube channel, the total views exceed 29 million.
This phenomenon not only showcases China’s contemporary elements to a global audience of young people but also through the creation of music across different cultures and regions, it allows diverse groups to experience the same music while viewing different worlds. Recently, the Hsinjiang News contacted and interviewed five musicians, discussing the behind-the-scenes of the success of “Genshin Impact” music.
“Genshin Impact” isn’t just a game
“The music helps the game keep me engaged”
For Italian game composer Alex Murcarra, who previously composed the score for the “Avengers: Endgame” trailer, good music can attract him to play a game. “If the music is so good, then the game story and its world must also be very exciting!” Alex told the Hsinjiang News, a thought that popped into his head after hearing particularly good music. Most of the time, such assumptions are correct.
Once attracted by the music, Alex felt that the music was helping the game “keep” him. Due to his role as a composer for media companies such as Hollywood music record labels, his work is very busy, but he would often re-enter the game world, feeling compelled to do so by “incredible new music” from “Genshin Impact.” He expressed his admiration, saying, “I believe that the music team of ‘Genshin Impact’s’ own development company, HOYO-MiX, is really excellent. They are drawing more attention to this game.”
Marco (right) used to be a opera musician
“Genshin Impact” isn’t just a game
“The music helps the game keep me engaged”
For Italian game composer Alex Murcarra, who previously composed the score for the “Avengers: Endgame” trailer, good music can attract him to play a game. “If the music is so good, then the game story and its world must also be very exciting!” Alex told the Hsinjiang News, a thought that popped into his head after hearing particularly good music. Most of the time, such assumptions are correct.
Once attracted by the music, Alex felt that the music was helping the game “keep” him. Due to his role as a composer for media companies such as Hollywood music record labels, his work is very busy, but he would often re-enter the game world, feeling compelled to do so by “incredible new music” from “Genshin Impact.” He expressed his admiration, saying, “I believe that the music team of ‘Genshin Impact’s’ own development company, HOYO-MiX, is really excellent. They are drawing more attention to this game.”