miHoYo Senior Programmer's Death Sparks Debate Over Gaming Industry Work Culture

On Friday, miHoYo informed all employees via an internal company-wide letter of a heartbreaking incident: a 36-year-old senior programmer unexpectedly passed away at his Shanghai rental apartment after returning to work following the Chinese Lunar New Year holiday. The employee, who had worked with the company for over six years since joining in December 2019, was described as diligent and well-regarded by colleagues.

According to the internal letter, on Feb. 24, the first workday after the Lunar New Year holiday, he returned to work as usual and clocked out at 7:08 PM. The following morning, when he missed the morning meeting and could not be reached, the company contacted his family and reported the situation to the police, who unfortunately discovered that he had passed away at his residence.

Regarding the cause of death, no official conclusion has been released yet. The family has questioned whether the employee's death was related to long-term overwork, but the matter awaits investigation by the police and relevant authorities. If an employee dies suddenly at a rental apartment after work hours, it is difficult to recognize it as a work-related injury; such a determination generally requires that the incident occur during work hours, at the workplace, and result in death within 48 hours.

miHoYo expressed deep sorrow over the incident, noting its emotional impact on all employees. The company has set up a dedicated team to assist the family with arrangements and provide all necessary support. Addressing online rumors that the company only offered a 30,000 RMB subsidy and insurance payout, miHoYo denied these claims. The company emphasized its comprehensive employee care policy for accidents, which includes commercial insurance, posthumous arrangements, and special condolence payments. Discussions with the family are ongoing to ensure the matter is handled appropriately, according to miHoYo.

In China, this incident has once again drawn public attention to the high-intensity working conditions in the internet industry and the importance of safeguarding employees' physical and mental health. As a leading company in China's domestic gaming sector, miHoYo's handling of the situation and its approach are likely to have a far-reaching impact on the entire industry.

miHoYo has called on all employees to pay attention to their health, saying that personal well-being must always come first under any circumstances. The company also urged the public to respect the privacy of the deceased and refrain from spreading speculation.

Genshin Impact is miHoYo's most famous game. It is an open-world action role-playing game that has become a global phenomenon since its launch, contributing significantly to the company's growth and prominence in the gaming industry.