Genshin Impact, a widely popular video game developed and published by miHoYo, has achieved remarkable success and is regarded as one of the most giant games in the world.
With its immense popularity, the game generates millions of dollars every month. However, concerning reports have surfaced from voice actors associated with this beloved game, stating that they have not received payment for several months.
This delay in compensation has resulted in potential difficulties for some actors, including the possibility of falling behind on their rent. Launched in 2020, Genshin Impact is an anime-themed action RPG that utilizes a free-to-play model and incorporates gacha mechanics.
It features many characters who join forces to combat adversaries using elemental magic attacks. Since its inception, the game has experienced unprecedented popularity and garnered a massive global player base.
Despite the tremendous financial success and profits amassed by miHoYo, two voice actors involved in Genshin Impact have recently expressed their frustration with the payment process through Twitter.
On July 12, Corina Boettger and Brandon Winckler, who provided their voices for characters in Genshin Impact, took to Twitter to express their dissatisfaction and revealed that they were still awaiting payment for their work after several months.
After a fifth email with no response, This is regarding Genshin Impact. Inexcusable for us as actors to be waiting 4+ months for pay when you make $86 million per month. Unfortunately, this is not an uncommon problem- (thread) https://t.co/BPBW3WibG9
— Brandon Winckler (@BWincklerVA) July 13, 2023
Boettger, known for portraying the popular NPC Paimon, and Winckler, responsible for voicing various minor characters within the RPG, expressed their concerns publicly.
Winckler expressed that he has reached out to miHoYo through five emails, requesting payment from the company, but he has not received any response.
He finds it unacceptable that he has been waiting for over four months to receive his paycheck, especially considering miHoYo’s estimated monthly revenue of over $85 million. Genshin Impact, between 2020 and 2021, reportedly amassed a total of $3.7 billion.
“It’s really hard to justify working on something for the sake of work when you can’t afford to eat,” tweeted Winckler. “Many non-union productions have this problem, I’ve waited anywhere from four to eight months for payment, and even then, it isn’t much to ask. $1000 here, $500 there, and it adds up fast.”
While Winckler loves working on video games, he declared that he would no longer be involved with Genshin Impact. He believes the game should be produced under a union contract with appropriate worker protections.
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Corina Boettger, another actor, also expressed frustration over unpaid work, mentioning that they have worked for months on a significant project without receiving payment.
Boettger claims to be owed thousands of dollars and is facing difficulties paying rent due to the delayed payments. Although Boettger did not explicitly mention Genshin Impact in the tweets, subsequent replies make it evident that the project referred to in their public statements is indeed Genshin Impact.
Corina Boettger tweet:
Again… been working for MONTHS unpaid on a BIG project for a studio. I am owed THOUSANDS of dollars. I am struggling currently to pay rent because of this. This project has made BILLIONS. This project should be Union.
— Zulu & Lima (Corina, digi-destined) (@thebirdzulu) July 13, 2023
“This project has made BILLIONS,” said Boettger. “This project should be Union. This wouldn’t happen if the game was union. Tell them to make the game SAG.”
Boettger added that while they’re not sure if the developers, publisher, or someone else are to blame for the payment issues, they believe that if the game were union none of this would be happening.