Yadea apologizes for inappropriate promotional material in game collaboration
Electric vehicle manufacturer Yadea has apologized for using inappropriate material during a promotional campaign for its collaboration with the game "Zenless Zone Zero." The company has removed the content and terminated its relationship with the involved content creator.
Chinese electric vehicle maker Yadea has issued an apology following a recent collaboration with Mihayo's game "Zenless Zone Zero." The issue arose when promotional content produced by a collaborating content creator featured inappropriate material, leading to significant backlash from the game's player base.
Yadea stated that it immediately removed the offending content and terminated its agreement with the individual creator. The company expressed sincere regret for the error and assured players that such mistakes would not be repeated. The core of the player dissatisfaction stemmed from the fact that the individual in the promotional video was not cosplaying a character from "Zenless Zone Zero," but rather presented a character from a different game, using that portrayal to promote the Yadea and "Zenless Zone Zero" joint venture.
The collaboration itself involves four special edition electric scooter and bicycle models from Yadea, themed around characters like Erileen, Lycan, and Bunbun from "Zenless Zone Zero." These models, including the "Guan Neng Bai Sha II Erileen Edition" and "Guan Neng Xing Jian II Erileen Edition," incorporate game-specific designs and interfaces. Pricing ranges from 4,199 yuan (approximately $580 USD) to 7,399 yuan (approximately $1,020 USD) and includes in-game redemption codes and merchandise.
This incident highlights the complexities of co-branded marketing, particularly when targeting younger demographics sensitive to the accurate and respectful representation of their favorite game titles and characters. Yadea's swift response and apology aim to mitigate reputational damage and maintain goodwill with its consumer base.