Gamescom 2026’s Mobile Nominees Are All Chinese — So Why Are Genshin Fans Already Calling It a ‘Courtesy Walk’?

The day the nominations came out, the first message in the group chat was a screenshot: Gamescom’s Best Mobile Game category – five nominees, all Chinese‑made.
Second message: “MiHoYo takes two. The other three share the leftovers.”
Third: “Isn’t this just a courtesy walk for zmd?”

Silence for three seconds. Then a flood of “hahahaha.”

After the laughter, someone said, “But when I think about Moonlit Song being used as a stepping stone, I really can’t laugh.”

Quiet again. Everyone understood.

I. Things You Already Know Before They Happen

Genshin players have a sixth sense: before official primogem giveaways, they can calculate exactly how many pulls they can save per patch. That instinct extends to awards. The moment the nomination list drops, they know they’re here to fill the numbers.

Not pessimism. Experience.

Genshin already won in 2024. Jury fatigue, publisher lobbying, the extra weight given to new game debuts – players can’t put it into words, but they feel it. It’s like walking into Spiral Abyss: the moment you see the enemy lineup, you know who’s being promoted and who’s being pushed aside.

“Just ban it like Sony did.” That was the harshest comment in the chat. Sony skipping Genshin trailers during State of Play is old news – players joke about it – but seeing your own game on the list, placed as the “designated runner‑up,” that feeling of “why include us if you’re not giving it to us” is real.

Even more real: “I didn’t say anything about last year’s runner‑up.”

Note that “didn’t.” They tolerated it last year. This year feels different. Moonlit Song is a six‑faceted powerhouse – Snezhnaya’s launch came with new maps, mechanics, story lines. Players aren’t blind. A game at its peak, forced into the runner‑up seat – even if it has won before – leaves a bad taste.

Someone followed up: “Wouldn’t that be a bit cruel to the other games?”

Sarcasm, of course – meaning: letting them compete against Genshin at full strength – who’s being cruel to whom?

But sarcasm carries truth. Everyone knows Genshin is the runner‑up, but the real question is whether the other nominees are even “qualified” to stand on the same stage. That inversion is strange – the most deserving game becomes the yardstick for the rest.

II. Little Sister, We’ll Carry You

The chat’s take on ZZZ was remarkably united.

“ZZZ’s different – she’s the little sister. Big sister Genshin can lend some prestige, no big deal.”

Translation: we know Zenless Zone Zero is here for the ride, but we don’t mind. Between MiHoYo games, there’s no “stealing” – the meat stays in the pot; whichever display case gets the trophy, it’s still MiHoYo’s.

But the next line gave it away: “ZZZ’s chances aren’t great – better just focus on selling merchandise.”

No one disagreed. Why?

Even ZZZ players know it. The art style, combat feel, character design – core players love it – but it doesn’t have Genshin’s breakout global narrative. Genshin won because it set the ceiling for open‑world mobile games. ZZZ is still running on the “stylish premium” track. The gap isn’t quality – it’s cultural footprint.

That’s why “lending prestige” is spot‑on. Putting ZZZ and Genshin on the same list is itself a recognition. The jury is saying: “We acknowledge the studio’s overall caliber, even if this new title hasn’t grown as tall as its big sister yet.”

Players say “just sell merchandise,” but they know: being nominated alongside big sister is already half the win.

The other half? Polychromes.

“If ZZZ wins, they’ll give rewards for sure – throw some Polychromes my way, I’ve hit hard pity too many times on the new banner.”

That’s the real driver. Awards belong to the company; rewards belong to players. Everyone remembers the primogem giveaway two years ago. If ZZZ pulls an upset, MiHoYo won’t be stingy – that’s the consensus. So even as they say “chances aren’t great,” their fingers are already heading to the voting page.

III. What Actually Bothers Players

The chat argued most fiercely not about Genshin vs. ZZZ, but about the third game.

“I thought it would go to Where Winds Meet.”

Followed by: “But damn, Hypergryph’s booth was that big? Looks like they paid – so it’s probably going to zmd.”

That paragraph carries weight.

First, players have their own internal criteria for who “should” win. Where Winds Meet’s open‑world wuxia theme and NetEase’s global reach made it, in many eyes, “the most award‑worthy nominee.” Not a sequel – no fatigue – unique theme, strong talking points – a safer vote, logically.

Second, the sheer size of Hypergryph’s Gamescom booth shifted that logic. In player lingo, “big booth” → “big PR budget” → “pushing for the award” → “there might be external factors.”

Third, and most painful: if zmd actually wins, would players accept it?

No.

Not because zmd is bad. It might be very good – Arknights already proved the IP’s longevity, and Endfield’s demo showed technical chops. But between “good” and “deserving” lies a gap players can’t articulate but can feel. That gap is seniority.

Genshin spent four years proving live‑service longevity, content‑update density, global community cohesion. A fun demo can’t match that. zmd hasn’t even launched – players have only seen trailers and beta builds. Genshin players have logged tens of thousands of hours on the map.

So from a player’s perspective, “zmd winning” isn’t the problem. It’s “zmd winning this year, under these circumstances, in this way” – that leaves a sour taste.

It’s like a marathon where a four‑year veteran is brought in to pace a first‑timer, then the rookie sprints to gold while the veteran stands on the side with a “honorable mention” plaque.

Someone in the chat said: “Either don’t put us in at all, or if you do, don’t use us to carry someone else’s sedan chair. What’s the point?”

No one answered.

IV. But Even Players Haven’t Made Up Their Minds

Here’s the twist: players themselves haven’t decided whether they actually want Genshin to win.

Reasons not to: winning again feels stale. If they win this year, then next year, the year after – it turns the award into MiHoYo’s private showcase, unfair to others.

Reasons to: why shouldn’t they? The game’s quality is undeniable. Just because you’ve won before doesn’t mean you shouldn’t win again. There’s no such rule in sports.

Both voices alternate in the chat. One person says “runner‑up is fine, we already got our primos,” and the next replies “but Moonlit Song is genuinely strong – I’d be salty if they don’t get it.”

That dissonance might be the answer.

Players aren’t fighting over a trophy. They’re fighting over a story – about what kind of game deserves sustained recognition. When a game stays at its peak for four years, how should the awards system treat it? Default to “you’ve had enough, let others have a turn”? Or insist “you’re still the best, so keep winning”?

The Gamescom jury won’t answer that. But players will, with their votes.

V. The Real Ending

August 26, 3 PM Beijing time. Voting opens.

People in the chat start sharing the voting link, captioned “Vote ZZZ – MiHoYo will give Polychromes.”

Anyone voting for Genshin?

Some. But they stay quiet. They vote silently, close the page, and go back to their daily commissions.

That’s what a Genshin player looks like in 2026. They no longer need awards to prove anything, nor arguments to defend anything. They’re past that. They’re just still playing, still logging in every day, still waiting for the next Snezhnaya story beat.

As for awards – doesn’t matter. Win, and we get primos. Lose, and we still get patches.

The only thing that stings is the nomination list itself – it reminds everyone that Genshin has reached the age of “time to make way.” Not that the game is old – it’s that it’s old in the awards system.

But the players aren’t old yet. They’re still voting.

On the day voting closes, someone in the chat says: “Whoever wins, it’s still Chinese‑made. Nothing to be ashamed of.”

True. Five nominees all Chinese – that fact outweighs any single award. It shows Chinese mobile games are no longer chasing. They are the track.

So this August, whether it’s Genshin, ZZZ, zmd, Where Winds Meet, or Silver City – the trophy will bear a Chinese name.

That’s enough.

And the runner‑up?

Running is still running. After this lap, there’s always the next patch.

The last message in the chat: “Alright, off to do my weekly bosses. Let whoever wants it take it.”

Then quiet. Everyone goes back to their own game. The sun rises over Teyvat as usual. The streets of New Eridu stay lively.

Award or not – we’ll worry about it tomorrow. Today, just burn our resin.