HoYoverse, the studio behind Honkai: Star Rail and Genshin Impact, is known for aggressively tackling leakers to protect their games’ hype-driven releases. With over 500 lawsuits filed, including precedent-setting cases in China treating leaks as trade secret violations, they’re not messing around. Their latest target is a player sued for $150,000 over a Honkai: Star Rail leak, showing their no-tolerance stance.
Details of the Lawsuit
On June 6, 2025, HoYoverse’s subsidiary Cognosphere sued Alfredo Lopez in California’s Central District Court for $150,000. Lopez, under the handle !Exciter98, streamed unreleased gameplay of the 5-star Quantum character Castorice on a Discord server with 12,000 members, a month before her Version 3.2 debut on April 8, 2025. HoYoverse claims Lopez violated copyright and confidentiality, hurting their marketing and player excitement. They’re seeking either actual damages or up to $150,000 in statutory damages.
HoYoverse’s History of Legal Action
HoYoverse has pursued over 600 lawsuits in nine years, per Game Daily, with 200+ leakers caught since 2022. Notable cases include a 2022 Discord subpoena for Genshin Impact leaker Ubatcha, a 2024 X case outing three leak accounts, and a $1.5 million Canadian judgment against a cheat software maker. In China, they’ve set legal standards by classifying leaks as trade secret breaches, per analyst Daniel Ahmad.
Context of the Leak
Castorice, a Remembrance-Quantum character with an HP-draining ability and a memosprite dragon named Pollux, was leaked via sources like HomDGCat in February 2025. Her “Sanctuary of Mooncocoon” passive, allowing a one-time ally revive, sparked power creep debates. The leak disrupted HoYoverse’s controlled rollout for Version 3.2 and planned Fate/stay night collab in Version 3.4. Lopez likely accessed a beta build, though HoYoverse focuses on his sharing, not the source.
Industry and Community Reactions
The lawsuit has divided fans. X users like @gilgaslash worry it could target players sharing leaks without NDAs, while @stephentotilo sees the $150,000 demand as a deterrent. Some call it harsh, others say it’s needed for gacha games’ business model. The case has fueled debates on leak ethics, with some fans closing leak accounts to avoid legal heat.
Potential Outcomes
Whether Lopez pays the full $150,000 depends on the court’s view of the damage. Without an NDA, HoYoverse must prove copyright harm. The case could shape how U.S. game companies handle leaks for free-to-play titles. While HoYoverse’s approach may deter leakers, it risks alienating fans and creators. As they eye projects like Honkai: Nexus Anima, this case could influence future leak battles.
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