Genshin Impact Voice Actors Reveal Shocking Six Months of Unpaid Dues by HoYoverse: Exposing the Dark Side

Two Genshin Impact voice actors have alleged that developer HoYoverse has not provided adequate compensation for months of recorded dialogue. HoYoverse skyrocketed to prominence in the gaming industry with the release of its flagship RPG in late 2020, garnering immense success. Building on this momentum, the Chinese developer aimed to replicate its achievement with the launch of Honkai: Star Rail earlier this year. However, two members of Genshin Impact's voice cast have expressed concerns regarding HoYoverse.

The game's diverse range of characters has played a significant role in Genshin Impact's popularity since its launch almost three years ago. Beloved characters such as Hu Tao and Raiden Shogun have generated millions of dollars for the developer through their limited gacha banners. The success of Genshin Impact has also brought recognition and popularity to many of its voice actors, including fan-favorites like Albedo's Khoi Dao and Collei's Dani Chambers. Nonetheless, two members of Genshin Impact's cast now assert that they have not received appropriate payment for their contributions.

Voice actors Brandon Winckler and Corina Boettger recently took to Twitter to express their frustration over unpaid payments from HoYoverse. Despite recording voice lines months ago for their respective roles, both actors claim to have not received their dues. Winckler, known for his work as Kaedehara Kazuha's friend and other side characters, reveals that he has reached out to HoYoverse multiple times but hasn't received any response regarding his payment, which was due four months ago. Boettger, who voices the beloved character Paimon in Genshin Impact, shares a similar experience, stating that she is still waiting for payments from December 2022. So far, there has been no official statement from HoYoverse addressing the actors' claims.

In addition to shedding light on their payment issues, both voice actors advocate for greater unionization within the gaming industry. Unionization has been a contentious topic in the gaming industry in recent years, with major studios like Blizzard and Sega of America actively supporting unionization efforts. However, many companies, including Nintendo and Activision, have faced criticism for their alleged "union-busting" tactics. Winckler even expressed his stance by stating that he would not take on another role for HoYoverse unless it involved working with a union.

HoYoverse's latest scandal coincides with the upcoming highly-anticipated event of the year for Genshin Impact. Version 4.0, expected to launch in mid-August, introduces Fontaine, the game's fifth major explorable region. Additionally, this update introduces a trio of new characters and incorporates new gameplay elements such as underwater exploration and combat. Despite the excitement among many fans regarding the new update, Winckler and Boettger's outcry continues to shed light on questionable practices within the gaming industry.

Genshin Impact is currently available for PC, PS4, PS5, and mobile devices, with a Switch version currently in progress.