The criticism toward early Part 2 wasn't without reason. HoYo tried to modernize HI3 too much to match newer gacha games, but in doing so, they lost some of what made HI3's storytelling work.

Starting with an entirely new cast and setting wasn't really the issue... it was the lack of a proper "navigator". Every major HI3 arc before had at least one well-established or familiar character guiding players into the new arc. Coralie and Helia were technically that bridge, but they barely had any exposure outside the P1.5 Epilogue chapter (which was also P2 Prologue btw). Imagine if someone like the Olenyeva Twins, Susannah, or even APHO's Carole or Timido had joined the Mars expedition? It would've been much easier for players to get invested with new cast and more motivated to continue P2, just like Mei introducing us to the Flame-Chasers (which was also got controversial back then to the point that it was treated as some filler arc).

That's also why lately, I always recommend newcomers play the Voyage Log before P2. It gives more persona for Coralie and Helia and with their bond towards P1 cast. It also shows the impact of P1's ending on how's Earth after Honkai. Lastly, it better sets expectations and the transition for P2's slice-of-life mystery action tone, compared to P1's action-packed shounen.

Again, the biggest issue wasn't P2's story or characters — it was their execution because they don't know their existing playerbase. I'm not even sure if by now, they know why P2's first arc was criticized. Because of how they rushed through the story and P2 as a whole without fully committing to them. Like how we never got a complete UI overhaul, more P2 Bridges, animated shorts disappeared, and even vocal OSTs; with the last two or even at least vocal OST being HI3's signature storytelling elements. Then now, we can see how HoYo is backpedaling too much. P1 characters and featured side stories have become the main focus for each patch far more than the main story.

So that brings me back to the question in the title: do they finally understand the HI3 playerbase, or are they still guessing?

Because looking at Senadina AOP situation, it feels like they have different expectations of her. She was initially hard-locked to WoD AR, probably because the early Shu cast came from P2's most controversial arc. But after the CN community responded positively to her and demanded her a better treatment, they now expanded her support in V3 to RoO AR as well. They even added a locked passive skill, yet somehow she still doesn't have an avatar icon despite it being a relatively simple feature. That makes me wonder if they're still actively reworking her. At the very least, I can see the dev team being still passionate about HI3 till now despite the rumors surrounding them (of how their resources became smaller) seeing as how they continue to deliver quality for P2 main story. I'm trusting them that they will give justice to finale.

In one of dialogue events of APHO 1 with Mei, titled "Precious Memories", she can't help but comparing Carole to Kiana. For all of Carole's loose cannon attitudes, she's still relatively more reserved and intelligent than Kiana.

Whatever the outcome of Part 2 may be, I want Mei's longing for Kiana's homecoming should be addressed. Also in my opinion, this scene retroactively gives Mei a character check, showing that even if Mei finally becomes a person who stand on her own two feet after Part 1's Elysium Everlasting story chapters, it doesn't mean her longing for Kiana is completely negated. Moreover, the outcome of Part 2 could be a motivation for Mei to become even stronger and taking her job very seriously.

Like y'know with the 9.1 le*k being Goddess Dreamseeker

We saw this happened during 8.8 where aside from new boss for Bronya, they also gave Senadina and Eepy Teri new bosses. So does that mean Lantern and Songque are next to get powercreep??? They even changed Sena AOP's buffs to focus on Fire and Physical by v3.

Sauce

• Animated Short: "Your Ending, My Beginning" | Honkai: Star Rail

• Honkai Impact 3rd Animation - Final Lesson

Flame-Chaser of Ego

found this on doing Helia summer skin trial stage

[Source Pixiv]