Drama: Identity V Collector’s Box Controversy – Why Does an Official Artbook Lack Chinese?

A heated controversy has erupted within the Identity V community regarding the developer's latest collector’s box. Priced at 1,600 RMB (approx. $230 USD) and targeted primarily at the domestic Chinese market, the box features an artbook containing only English and Japanese text—completely omitting Chinese. Fans are livid, mockingly questioning if the developer, NetEase, assumes its Chinese players are fluent in Japanese.

Players point out that this is a recurring issue. Long-time fans recall that the 3rd and 4th-anniversary sets also lacked comprehensive Chinese, leading many to label the game as a "localized foreign game" where domestic fans are consistently treated as an afterthought.

In response to the backlash, rumors surfaced that the artbook was outsourced to a Japanese studio. This excuse backfired; critics pointed out that even if the artbook was outsourced, the fact that only minor sections like animation storyboards included Chinese while the rest remained in foreign languages makes the high price tag feel even more insulting.

Many observers note that NetEase has long been criticized in Chinese gaming circles for being "too eager to please foreign audiences." From their history with Blizzard titles to marketing choices in games like *Onmyoji*, this latest incident serves as another reminder of the growing rift between the developer's international ambitions and the expectations of their local player base.