The worldwide rise of Chinese video games has opened new avenues for presenting Chinese culture to global audiences. One of the most commercially successful examples is Genshin Impact, developed by the Shanghai-based company HoYoverse (formerly miHoYo). Within the game’s diverse world, each region draws inspiration from a distinct culture, including the nation of Liyue, which is rooted in Chinese mythology, aesthetics, and traditions.
This thesis examines how Chinese cultural references from the Liyue region are localised into English and what translation strategies are used to balance cultural authenticity with accessibility for global players. The analysis focuses on categories such as character names, place names, food items, dialogues, and lore-related terminology. To interpret these strategies, the research adopts Lawrence Venuti’s concepts of domestication and foreignization, considering how localisation negotiates between preserving cultural identity and ensuring playability and comprehension for non-Chinese audiences.