Inside Genshin Impact's Actor-Pay Fiasco: Shocking Revelations and Industry Fallout

The genre of gacha video games emerged with the introduction of live-service games and microtransactions. In these games, players either earn in-game currency or spend real-world money to gamble for special perks, such as limited-time items, cards, and playable characters. Genshin Impact, developed by HoYoVerse, is a prime example of such a game and has gained immense popularity among fans.

Even gamers who haven't played this action RPG are likely familiar with it because of the high value placed on its 4 and 5-star characters. As a result, Genshin Impact has generated impressive earnings. However, the game faced a recent controversy when two of its recurring voice actors issued a statement claiming they had not been paid for several months. Fortunately, the situation was resolved amicably. Nonetheless, it is important to understand exactly what transpired, as this is not a standard occurrence and should not be repeated in the industry.

The Accusations From Genshin Impact's Voice Actors

Since 2020, Genshin Impact has gained widespread recognition among gamers. Initially, there were no issues with the voice actors receiving their payments. However, in December 2022, the voice actors started experiencing delays or complete lack of payment. Despite attempts to contact HoYoVerse and the recording studio, Formosa Group, two significant voice actors from Genshin Impact, Brandon Winckler and Corina Boettger, came forward in July 2023 to reveal that they had not been paid. Brandon, known for his work as various NPCs and a key character's friend, expressed concerns about potential homelessness due to the lack of income. Corina, the voice of the game's mascot Paimon, turned to Twitch streams to raise funds for rent. The voice actors were uncertain whether HoYoVerse or Formosa Group was responsible for the payment issues. Nevertheless, it was clear that both actors, like any other industry professionals, deserved to receive their rightful compensation.

HoYoVerse's Statement and Current Resolution

Actors publicly declaring on social media that they have not received payment for six months is a significant matter that should not be ignored. Responding to Boettger's call to demand unionization for the cast of Genshin, some fans delved deeper into the issue. This investigation revealed that Winckler was promptly compensated for their work on Honkai: Star Rail, another game in the HoYoVerse that utilizes a different recording studio, Rocket Sound.

GLHF reached out to HoYoVerse for a comment, and they responded by stating that "Genshin Impact supports its voice actors in receiving their rightful payments." The company claimed to have made on-time payments to Formosa Group and had urged them to pay the voice actors while exploring alternative options. Boettger and Winckler have recently stated that the situation is being resolved following HoYoVerse's statement. Although certain aspects are still unknown, the actors' main concern, their payment, has been addressed, at least for now.

After Boettger and possibly others faced dire circumstances due to this terrible situation, it is truly relieving to witness such a prompt resolution. However, it is crucial to acknowledge that this unfortunate incident should never have occurred in the first place. Sadly, this is not an isolated incident where actors embodying iconic characters have been subjected to unfair treatment, and regrettably, it will not be the last. Nonetheless, efforts should be made by Formosa Group, HoYoVerse, and every involved company to explore preventive measures, ensuring that such occurrences are never repeated, be it in the context of Genshin Impact or any other future projects.

Genshin Impact is readily accessible on various platforms, including Mobile, PC, PS4, and PS5, with an upcoming Switch version in development.

Source: GLHF