Genshin Impact developer miHoYo has confirmed that four former employees were sentenced to prison due to bribery and corruption activities. Since its release in 2020, Genshin Impact has become one of miHoYo’s flagship products. This success has drawn some legal scrutiny, but miHoYo has demonstrated a commitment to rooting out any fraudulent actions that might put its intellectual properties at risk.
Referred to as HoYoverse, miHoYo has released various popular titles in the gacha genre, including Honkai: Star Rail and Zenless Zone Zero. The company does not plan to slow down, with new projects such as Honkai: Nexus Anima and Varsapura in development. In early 2025, it was announced that miHoYo intends to support Genshin Impact for at least the next decade. However, recent revelations indicate that not all employees have been working in the company’s best interests.
Through an official statement on WeChat on February 6, miHoYo reported that four staff members were found guilty of using their positions to solicit bribes from business partners for personal gain. The sentences handed down include one individual receiving four months in prison and two others sentenced to three months each, with the final employee facing six months. This move reinstates miHoYo’s policy against bribery and aims to foster a just business environment.
MiHoYo further stated that a fifth ex-employee from the Genshin Impact marketing team was also found to be using their position to secure advantages for their private company. All findings have been turned over to law enforcement for additional scrutiny, and the individual has been placed on local fraud watchlists, permanently barring them from employment.
Additionally, miHoYo disclosed a list of former partner companies implicated in bribery activities, reaffirming their stance against corruption. This isn’t the first instance of miHoYo tackling legal issues with an iron fist, as it has previously pursued action against Genshin Impact content creators who allegedly distributed cheats.
Recently, the company has been proactive in safeguarding its IPs, having previously filed lawsuits against notorious leakers within its gaming communities, including one notable case involving a leaker and their Discord server. As it stands, HoYoverse is steadfast in protecting its intellectual properties from fraudulent actions.
Related Articles:
On another note, HoYoverse’s latest titles have kept their audience engaged. For instance, Honkai: Star Rail has initiated a collaboration with Fortnite in February 2026, featuring skins inspired by characters Kafka and Blade. Moreover, Genshin Impact’s current Luna IV update marks the return of its much-anticipated Lantern Rite event. The ongoing Nod-Krai storyline is far from complete, with an upcoming patch scheduled for release later this month, where fan-favorite characters such as Skirk and Flins are set to return alongside Varka’s debut. Updates will likely be unveiled during the next official livestream on February 16.
