A senior programmer at miHoYo, aged 36, has passed away unexpectedly, and the cause of death is currently being investigated.

      On Friday, miHoYo notified its employees through an internal letter about a tragic event: a 36-year-old senior programmer unexpectedly died at his rental apartment in Shanghai shortly after returning to work from the Chinese Lunar New Year holiday.

      The cause of death has not yet been officially determined. The employee’s family has questioned if long-term overwork contributed to his death, and an investigation by the police and relevant authorities is pending.

      It can be challenging to classify a sudden death at a rental apartment after work hours as a work-related injury, as such classifications typically require the incident to occur at the workplace during work hours and result in death within 48 hours.

      Genshin Impact is miHoYo's most prominent game, known for being an open-world action role-playing game. According to the internal communication, the employee joined miHoYo in December 2019 and had more than six years of service with the company. He was recognized as diligent, responsible, and highly regarded among his colleagues. On Feb. 24, the first workday after the holiday, he returned to work as usual and clocked out at 7:08 PM.

      The next morning, after he missed a meeting and was unreachable, the company contacted his family and informed the police, who regrettably found he had passed away at his home.

      miHoYo expressed great sadness over the event, acknowledging its emotional toll on all staff. The company has formed a dedicated team to assist the family with arrangements and provide necessary support.

      In response to online speculation suggesting that the company only offered a 30,000 RMB subsidy and insurance payout, miHoYo refuted these claims. They have stated that their employee care policy for accidents is extensive, including commercial insurance, posthumous arrangements, and special condolence payments. Ongoing discussions with the family aim to ensure the situation is managed appropriately, according to miHoYo.

      miHoYo has urged all employees to prioritize their health, emphasizing that personal well-being must always come first. The company also called on the public to respect the privacy of the deceased and avoid spreading speculation.

      This incident has reignited public concern in China regarding the demanding working conditions in the internet industry and the need to protect employees’ physical and mental well-being. As a leading company in China’s gaming sector, how miHoYo handles the aftermath of this situation could significantly influence the industry as a whole.

      Jessie Wu is a tech reporter based in Shanghai, covering consumer electronics, semiconductors, and the gaming industry for TechNode. She can be reached via e-mail at jessie.wu@technode.com.