Sensitivity Warning: The following article contains references to self harm which some readers may find disturbing. Please proceed with caution.
The official website for Infinity Nikki, the open-world dress up role-playing game from former The Legend of Zelda director Kentaro Tominaga, was temporarily hacked to display an offensive message and reference to Genshin Impact.
The highly anticipated game arrived on PlayStation 5, PC via the Epic Games Store, iOS, and Android today, December 5, but many users visiting the official website to download it were instead met with the offensive message.
Though it usually, and does again, feature colorful advertisements, information, and the actual download links for Infinity Nikki, alongside details on how to claim the launch rewards released by developer Infold Games, the website temporarily featured a blank white screen and the message: "Kill yourself! Or just better try Genshin Impact PRIVATE SERVER!" A QR code was also featured.
Many users posted the message on social media including Infinity Nikki's Reddit page, though IGN won't include links to such posts for security risks surrounding the QR code, which should not be accessed.
As for the reference to Genshin Impact, this likely comes as a result of vague comparisons between the two games. Though there are more differences than similarities between Infinity Nikki and Genshin Impact, both are open world gacha games with colorful anime art styles.
The brief website hack is seemingly just a small blemish on an otherwise successful launch, however, as players are sharing positive feedback for the game itself and it performed well with critics too.
In our 9/10 review, IGN said: "Infinity Nikki has deep open world exploration, a quirky story, and some of the most beautiful in-game outfits you'll ever see – you just have to be ready to navigate a maze of menus to get them."
If you are having suicidal thoughts, the National Suicide Prevention Hotline in the U.S. is available 24 hours a day at 1-800-273-8255. A list of international suicide hotlines can be found here.
