Suspicions of Design Plagiarism: Are Genshin Impact's Lyney and Lynette Inspired by 'Princess Principal'?

Recently, a player on the NGA gaming forums questioned whether the character designs of Lyney and Lynette from Genshin Impact were 'borrowed' from the 2017 anime 'Princess Principal.' The user highlighted specific details such as the hemline, stockings, and glove styles, arguing that they share a striking resemblance to the original anime characters.

Regarding Lyney, the user listed features such as the hat patterns, back straps, and waist fasteners as points of comparison, jokingly noting the addition of black stockings due to the character's gender swap. The post ignited a fierce debate within the community regarding whether miHoYo's design style constitutes excessive 'homage' or potential plagiarism.

Reactions in the comment section were mixed. Many 'tea-sippers' (gossip enthusiasts) pointed out that this was the 'Nth' thread on the topic, speculating that such posts are frequently locked or deleted due to their controversial nature. Some users agreed that the resemblance for Lynette is high, while Lyney's design is more debatable, with some even joking that the original poster might attract the attention of the company's PR team.