miHoYo 2025 Anti-Leak Report: 2,000+ Lawsuits and $5M in Damages
miHoYo Cracks Down on Leakers: Over $5 Million Secured in Damages
miHoYo, the developer behind global hits Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail, has signaled the end of the “wild west” era for game leaks. According to a comprehensive 2025 enforcement report, the company has taken aggressive legal action against leakers, hackers, and IP infringers. Consequently, the company has successfully recovered over 37 million yuan (approx. $5.38 million USD) in damages through court rulings and settlements.
A Record Year for Legal Actions
The scale of miHoYo’s legal campaign is unprecedented in the gacha gaming industry. Throughout 2025, the developer collaborated with law enforcement to investigate 22 criminal cases and filed civil lawsuits against a staggering 2,388 individuals. The crackdown targeted several categories of misconduct:
- Internal Content Leaks: Exposing characters, stories, and maps before their official reveal.
- Malicious Rumors: Spreading false information intended to damage the game’s reputation.
- Cheat Software: Selling tools that provide unfair advantages or bypass game mechanics.
- Private Servers: Operating unauthorized versions of the game for profit.
The report also revealed that 1,240 offenders issued public apologies after facing legal consequences, highlighting miHoYo’s intent to use these cases as a deterrent for the community.
High-Profile Arrests and Wiki Closures
Several major cases were highlighted in the report, including the arrest of three individuals linked to the HomDGCat Wiki, a prominent source for datamined information. Furthermore, miHoYo successfully sued a high-profile blogger for $70,000 for the continuous distribution of unreleased assets.
Another significant victory involved the arrest of a user known as “LiuVanXXX,” who was caught profiting from the illegal sale of leaked data. By hitting leakers in their wallets and through the justice system, miHoYo is making it clear that leaking is no longer a low-risk hobby.
War on Cheat Sellers and Account Thieves
Beyond leakers, the company focused on “Raindrop Studio,” an online store selling cheats, which was ordered to pay $380,000 in damages. miHoYo also partnered with police in Yangzhou to dismantle a criminal syndicate involved in stealing and renting out over 10 million player accounts. This operation led to the arrest of 25 suspects, significantly disrupting the black market for stolen player data.
Is the Era of Leaks Coming to an End?
For years, “leaks” have been a double-edged sword for the community. While they help players plan their spending (saving Primogems or Stellar Jades), they often spoil narrative twists and disrupt marketing cycles. With miHoYo now pursuing damages in the millions, the “culture of leaking” is facing its most significant threat to date.
As the developer continues to refine its security and legal strategies, fans may have to rely more on official “Drip Marketing” than underground datamines.
Origin: automaton
