Genshin is one of the world’s largest and most successful video games, bringing developer/publisher miHoYo tens of millions of dollars each month. However, some voice actors working on the popular game say they haven’t been paid for months, and that some may be behind on their rent.
Released in 2020, Genshin is a free-to-play, gacha-driven online anime-themed action RPG featuring numerous characters working together to defeat enemies using elemental magic attacks. The game has been a smash hit since the moment it was first released, creating a huge community of players around the world. However, despite the huge amount of funding and success the game has brought to developer miHoYo, two of his voice actors who worked on the game publicly shared their frustration about the rewards on his Twitter.
On July 12, the two voice actors who voiced the characters in the film, Corinna Bettger and Brandon Winkler, Genshin, They tweeted how frustrated they were and claimed months later that the outstanding money had still not been paid. Bettger will be voicing the popular NPC Paimon, and Winkler will be voicing his characters in various minors in his RPGs.
Winkler explained that he sent miHoYo five emails. I have asked the company for payment, but have yet to receive a response. He said it was “unacceptable” to have to wait more than four months for a paycheck, while estimating that the publisher makes more than $85 million a month. From 2020 to 2021, Genshin reportedly Generated a total of $3.7 billion.
“It’s really hard to justify doing anything for work when you can’t afford to eat,” Winkler tweeted. “A lot of non-union productions have this problem and I waited 4-8 months to get paid, but still, you don’t have to ask much. Here he’s $1000, over there he’s $500.” And it will grow quickly.”
Winkler added that although he loves working on video games, he has no intention of working on them. Genshin He argues that games should now be “union-made” with union contracts and protections.
fellow actors Corinna Bettger also tweeted about her frustration They claimed they had been working for “many months” without pay on a “big project” and complained of underpayment. Boettger claims he owes thousands of dollars and is currently struggling to pay rent due to late payments. Although Boettger does not say directly, Genshin In the tweet, a follow-up reply reveals which project the attacker is referring to in their official statement.
“This project has generated billions in profits,” said Boettger. “This project has to be Union. If the game was Union, this wouldn’t happen. Tell them to make the game SAG.”
Boettger added that he doesn’t know if the developer, publisher or anyone else was responsible for the payment issue, but he believes none of this would have happened had the game been unionized. added.
Kotaku We reached out to miHoYo, Boettger and Winkler for comment, but did not hear back prior to publication.
Unions in the video game industry are not as common as in other industries such as film and manufacturing, but that has started to change in recent years. beginning, QA tester call of duty Labor union formation at studio Raven Softwarefollowed by the tester bioware, Blizzardand Bethesda. Proletariat Studio developer tried to form a union before Everyone in the studio, except management, got involved, but it was ultimately unsuccessful. and on monday, Sega of America Offices in Irvine, California Successfully Vote to Unionize.
Outside Microsoftvideo game publishers have not voluntarily endorsed these unions, Activision reportedly tried to bust unions in the big organization.
