A 36-year-old senior programmer from miHoYo has passed away unexpectedly, and the cause of death is currently under investigation.

      Credit: Genshin Impact

      On Friday, miHoYo announced to all employees through an internal letter about a tragic event: a 36-year-old senior programmer was found dead in his Shanghai rental apartment after returning to work following the Chinese Lunar New Year holiday.

      No official determination has been released regarding the cause of death. The family has raised concerns about a potential link between the employee's death and prolonged overwork, but this issue is pending investigation by the police and appropriate authorities.

      In incidents where an employee unexpectedly dies in a rental apartment after work hours, it is challenging to classify it as a work-related injury. Such classification typically requires that the event occurs during work hours, at the workplace, and results in death within 48 hours.

      Genshin Impact is the most prominent game developed by miHoYo, known as an open-world action role-playing game.

      The internal letter indicated that the employee joined miHoYo in December 2019 and had been with the company for over six years. He was known for his hard work, responsibility, and was highly regarded by his colleagues. On February 24, the first workday following the Lunar New Year holiday, he resumed work as usual and clocked out at 7:08 PM.

      The next morning, when he failed to appear at the morning meeting and could not be contacted, the company reached out to his family and alerted the police, who unfortunately found that he had passed away at his home.

      miHoYo expressed profound sorrow over the incident, recognizing the emotional toll it has taken on all employees. The company has established a dedicated team to assist the family with necessary arrangements and support.

      Responding to online claims that the company only provided a 30,000 RMB subsidy and insurance payout, miHoYo refuted these allegations. The company highlighted its extensive employee care policy regarding accidents, which encompasses commercial insurance, arrangements after death, and special condolence payments. Ongoing discussions with the family aim to ensure the matter is handled properly, according to miHoYo.

      Credit: Genshin Impact

      miHoYo has urged all employees to prioritize their health, stating that personal well-being should always come first, regardless of circumstances. The company also implored the public to respect the deceased's privacy and refrain from spreading speculation.

      This incident has once again brought public focus to the intense working conditions within the internet sector in China and underscored the need for protecting employees' physical and mental health. As a prominent player in China's gaming industry, miHoYo's response to this situation and its approach are likely to influence the entire sector.

      Jessie Wu is a tech reporter based in Shanghai. She covers consumer electronics, semiconductors, and the gaming industry for TechNode. You can connect with her via e-mail: jessie.wu@technode.com.