HoYoverse Secures Over $5.3 Million in Legal Damages From IP Violations in 2025

Genshin Impact developer miHoYo (HoYoverse) has revealed that it recovered more than $5.3 million in legal compensation during 2025 through lawsuits targeting leaks, cheats, counterfeit goods, and other forms of intellectual property infringement.

As one of the most successful gacha games of recent years, Genshin Impact has frequently faced issues related to illegal distribution of content and unauthorized use of its intellectual property. In response, the developer has maintained an aggressive legal stance against such activities.

Legal Action Against Leaks, Cheats, and Illegal Servers

According to a March 8 statement published on the company’s official WeChat account, miHoYo’s legal department summarized its 2025 Intellectual Property Protection and Rights Enforcement Report. The report states that the company secured over 37 million yuan (approximately $5.3 million) in settlements and court-ordered compensation.

Legal action was taken against a wide range of violations, including:

• Game leaks
• Cheat distribution
• Illegal private servers
• Defamation
• Counterfeit merchandise
• Unauthorized account trading

In total, 2,388 individuals were found responsible for these activities, while 1,240 of them issued public apologies.

One prominent case involved an online leaker who was ordered to pay 550,000 yuan (around $80,000) for distributing unreleased content from Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail.

Hundreds of Leakers Held Accountable

The report revealed that more than 300 leakers faced legal consequences, and in some cases their online identities were publicly disclosed after court rulings or compensation orders.

The enforcement campaign also resulted in:

• 109,242 illegal content links removed
• 988 accounts banned for infringement
• Cooperation with authorities on 22 criminal cases
• Assistance with 21 administrative investigations

HoYoverse also acknowledged the role of its player community, stating that over 100,000 reports of violations were submitted by players, helping the company track down illegal activities.

A Long-Standing Crackdown on Game Leaks

miHoYo has built a reputation for taking strict legal action against leaks and cheating tools. In previous cases, individuals involved in distributing cheats for Genshin Impact received prison sentences and fines, while other users have faced large financial penalties for sharing unreleased content.

For example, in June 2025, a Honkai: Star Rail player was reportedly sued for $150,000 after streaming unreleased gameplay footage.

Future Projects and Upcoming Content

While continuing its legal efforts to protect its intellectual property, HoYoverse is also expanding its portfolio. Several new projects are currently in development, including Honkai: Nexus Anima, Petit Planet, and Varsapura.

At the same time, the company is collaborating with Ufotable on a Genshin Impact anime adaptation, although a release date has not yet been announced.

Meanwhile, Genshin Impact continues to evolve with new updates and characters. The game recently teased Linnea, an upcoming character expected to arrive in Version 6.5, which is anticipated to launch in early April.