Transnational Proximity and the Acceptance of Genshin Impact Among American Players

Focusing on American players and grounded in the framework of transnational proximity, this study integrates grounded theory and fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) to systematically identify the key factors shaping American players’ acceptance of Genshin Impact and to further investigate the configurational conditions that generate both high and low acceptance. The findings are threefold. First, the effectiveness of transnational proximity follows a configurational logic characterized by the joint effects of “universality” and “Chineseness.” Second, the breakdown of transnational proximity is rooted in structural ruptures within the configurational interplay between these two dimensions. Third, transnational proximity exhibits causal asymmetry whereby “success through collaboration, failure from a single condition.” This study reveals the underlying mechanisms of transnational game acceptance in cross-cultural contexts. The findings offer both practical implications and strategic insights for the global expansion of Chinese mobile games.