Gossip: The 'Salted Fish Sniper' Controversy in Honkai Gakuen 2 - From Official Meme-ing to Rapid Backtracking

Recently, the 10.1 beta update for Honkai Gakuen 2 stirred up controversy with a new item named 'Salted Fish.' Players noted that the item's name and flavor text were direct references to a controversial internet meme, leading to heated debates across the community.

Facing significant backlash and player criticism, the developers acted quickly. In a follow-up announcement, they confirmed that the weapon's name and ability description would be adjusted. This rapid 'huagui'—a slang term meaning 'sliding on rails' or 'backtracking' when developers yield to community pressure—became the main focus of the discussion.

The community's reactions were divided. Some argued that the official team was trying to 'deconstruct' the meme to neutralize its aggressive connotations, while others saw it as a deliberate provocation by the company. One user shared a perspective suggesting that actively adopting and modifying internet memes is a valid strategy to strip them of their original offensive power. Meanwhile, some cynical players simply viewed this as a typical move for the developers, treating the entire situation as community entertainment.