miHoYo is a Chinese company that develops and publishes video games. Beyond games, they have diversified into creating animated series, novels, comics, music, and merchandise.
2010: miHoYo Team Develops "Misato Engine" and Wins Award for "Legend of Saha"
In 2010, the future miHoYo team created the "Misato Engine" (or "Misato2D") using Adobe Flash Player. They used an upgraded version of the engine to develop "Legend of Saha," winning a cash prize at the China Game Developers Conference (CGDC) and securing a project with Shanda Games.
January 2011: miHoYo Studio Founded
miHoYo studio was established in January 2011 by three students in a university dormitory at their campus (D32).
September 2011: miHoYo Launches First Game "FlyMe2theMoon"
miHoYo released its first game, "FlyMe2theMoon," on the App Store in September 2011. The game, inspired by the ending theme song of the anime Neon Genesis Evangelion, was a puzzle game developed using Cocos2D and Box2D.
December 2011: Development of "Houkai Gakuen" Begins
Inspired by the game "Zombie Town" and the anime "Highschool of the Dead," miHoYo began developing "Houkai Gakuen" (also known as "Zombiegal Kawaii") in December 2011, marking their first game project since the company's official founding.
February 2012: Shanghai miHoYo Network Technology Co., Ltd. Officially Established
Shanghai miHoYo Network Technology Co., Ltd., was officially established in February 2012. Cai Haoyu became the chairman, general manager, controlling shareholder, and actual controller of the company.
November 2012: First Version of "Houkai Gakuen" Completed
The first version of "Houkai Gakuen" was finished in November 2012, after approximately 11 months of development. The game utilized the Unity engine and Autodesk Maya software.
June 2013: "Houkai Gakuen 2" (Guns Girl Z) Released
miHoYo launched "Houkai Gakuen 2" (also known as "Guns Girl Z"), an arcade action game, in June 2013.
January 2014: "Houkai Gakuen 2" Public Testing Begins
Public testing for "Houkai Gakuen 2" began on January 26, 2014. The game was subsequently released on the Bilibili platform in March of the same year.
June 2014: Development of "Honkai Impact 3rd" Begins
The development of "Honkai Impact 3rd" began in June 2014. Cai Haoyu confirmed the project's existence during the GameLook Game Open Day conference in Shanghai in July, mentioning that the core gameplay was under development.
March 2015: miHoYo Begins Engine Development for "Honkai Impact 3rd"
In March 2015, miHoYo commenced development on the engines that would power "Honkai Impact 3rd," creating a physics-based animation system and developing technologies for 3D modeling, light mapping, real-time rendering, and pre-rendering.
October 2015: Content Production for "Honkai Impact 3rd" Begins
Content creation for "Honkai Impact 3rd" began in October 2015, with the development team drawing inspiration from game series such as "Bayonetta," "Devil May Cry," and "Guilty Gear."
March 2016: Internal iOS Beta for "Honkai Impact 3rd"
"Honkai Impact 3rd" entered its internal iOS beta testing phase in March 2016.
September 2016: Honkai Impact 3rd Launches and Achieves Success
Honkai Impact 3rd was launched in September 2016 and achieved considerable success, prompting miHoYo to contemplate their next project.
January 2017: Genshin Impact Development Begins
Development for Genshin Impact, initially titled "崩坏4" ("Honkai 4th"), began in January 2017, aiming to enhance miHoYo's research and development capabilities.
February 2017: miHoYo Files for IPO
In February 2017, miHoYo filed for an initial public offering (IPO) with the China Securities Regulatory Commission. The company aimed to raise over a billion Yuan.
October 2017: "Honkai Impact 3rd" Launches in South Korea
"Honkai Impact 3rd" was released in South Korea on October 17, 2017, further solidifying its popularity in Asia.
November 2017: "Honkai Impact 3rd" Launches in Southeast Asia
On November 1, 2017, "Honkai Impact 3rd" was launched in Southeast Asia, marking another step in its global expansion.
2017: miHoYo Begins Exploring Open-World Game Development
Throughout 2017, miHoYo explored the concept of creating an open-world game, inspired by their experiences with popular titles in the genre.
March 2018: "Honkai Impact 3rd" Launches in North America and Europe
"Honkai Impact 3rd" was released in North America and Europe on March 28, 2018, expanding its availability to a wider global audience.
November 2018: Launch of miHoYo's Gamer Community, Miyoushe
miHoYo launched its official gamer community, Miyoushe (also known as miHoYo BBS), in November 2018. The platform serves as a hub for official game information, event peripherals, practical tools for players, and a content creation space.
June 2019: Genshin Impact's First Beta Testing
Genshin Impact underwent its first phase of beta testing in June 2019, focusing on the game's core mechanics and the Mondstadt region.
July 2019: First PV of Tears of Themis Released
The first promotional video (PV) for miHoYo's adventure visual novel game, Tears of Themis, was released in July 2019.
December 2019: "Honkai Impact 3rd" PC Version Released
After initially being a mobile-exclusive title, "Honkai Impact 3rd" was made available on PC on December 26, 2019, allowing a wider audience to experience the game.
2019: Genshin Impact Development Team Grows to 300 People
By mid-2019, the Genshin Impact development team grew to 300 people as miHoYo grappled with the complexities of open-world game development.
2019: miHoYo and Honkai Impact 3rd Selected for National Cultural Export Recognition
miHoYo and its game, Honkai Impact 3rd, were previously recognized as key contributors to national cultural export in 2019.
January 2020: Launch of miHoYo Forums
In January 2020, miHoYo launched its global forum counterpart to miHoYo BBS, initially named "miHoYo Forums." The platform served as the official forum for Genshin Impact.
April 2020: Genshin Impact's Development Team Grows Significantly
By April 2020, the Genshin Impact development team had expanded to 500 people, highlighting the ambitious scope of the project.
April 2020: Introduction of Miyouji, the Mascot for Chinese Forums
On April 30, 2020, miHoYo introduced Miyouji, the mascot for their Chinese forums. Miyouji boasts various themed costumes inspired by miHoYo's games.
May 2020: First Dance Video of Lumi Uploaded
On May 14, 2020, the bilibili account "VAN0va" uploaded Lumi's first dance video, "N0va LookDev Test," without initially revealing its connection to miHoYo.
July 2020: Tears of Themis Officially Launches
Tears of Themis officially launched in July 2020 after a period of pre-registration.
August 2020: miHoYo Officially Reveals Lumi
miHoYo officially introduced Lumi, a virtual actress and YouTuber, on August 4, 2020, alongside the release of the "N0va Desktop" dynamic wallpaper software.
September 2020: Genshin Impact Officially Launches
Genshin Impact officially launched in September 2020 after several rounds of beta testing and anticipation from gamers.
September 2020: miHoYo Partners with Zhangjiajie for Cultural Tourism
In September 2020, miHoYo began a strategic partnership with Zhangjiajie to promote cultural tourism in the city using Genshin Impact.
November 2020: miHoYo and China Social Welfare Foundation Launch "Yiqi Shouhu" Charity Program
In November 2020, miHoYo and the China Social Welfare Foundation launched the "Yiqi Shouhu" charity program to support children with autism.
December 2020: N0va Desktop App Released for Android
After its PC release in August 2020, the N0va Desktop app, featuring Lumi, was released for Android devices in December 2020.
2020: miHoYo Withdraws IPO Application
In 2020, miHoYo withdrew its IPO application for unknown reasons.
February 2021: Genshin Impact's Development Team Reaches 700 People
The development team for Genshin Impact continued to expand and reached 700 people by February 2021.
March 2021: miHoYo Partners with Ruijin Hospital to Establish Brain-Computer Interface Research Lab
In March 2021, miHoYo partnered with Ruijin Hospital to create the miHoYo Joint Laboratory of Encephalopathy Center, also known as the Ruijin-miHoYo Laboratory, to research brain-computer interface technology.
May 2021: Closed Beta Testing for International Version of Tears of Themis
A closed beta test for the international version of Tears of Themis took place in April and May 2021, followed by the opening of pre-registration in June.
May 2021: miHoYo Establishes Communist Youth League Committee
miHoYo set up its Communist Youth League Committee in May 2021 to involve young individuals in the company's growth and to support the promotion of traditional Chinese culture.
June 2021: Closed Beta Testing of HoYoLAB App
The HoYoLAB app, a rebranded version of miHoYo Forums, started its closed beta testing in June 2021.
July 2021: miHoYo and China Youth Development Foundation Launch Xinhuo Charity Program
On July 12, 2021, miHoYo and the China Youth Development Foundation launched the Xinhuo Charity Program to support youth education.
July 2021: miHoYo Delivers Disaster Relief Supplies to Henan Province
On July 23, 2021, miHoYo delivered disaster relief supplies to Xinmi County in Henan Province to help those affected by heavy flooding.
August 2021: miHoYo and Genshin Impact Recognized as Key Contributors to National Cultural Export
In August 2021, miHoYo, alongside Genshin Impact, was recognized as a "Key National Cultural Export Enterprise" and "Key National Cultural Export Project", respectively, for 2021-2022.
September 2021: miHoYo's Party Branch Elevated to Party Committee
In September 2021, miHoYo's Shanghai branch was promoted from a party branch to a party committee under the CCP.
October 2021: Honkai: Star Rail Announced
Honkai: Star Rail was first announced on social media on October 5, 2021, and began its "Origin Test" phase on October 8.
2021: Energy Singularity Founded in Shanghai
Energy Singularity was established in 2021 in Shanghai, China.
2021: Genshin Impact Becomes One of the Highest-Grossing Mobile Games
In 2021, miHoYo's Genshin Impact, an open-world action role-playing game, achieved significant commercial success, becoming one of the highest-grossing mobile games of the year.
February 2022: miHoYo Provides Support During Shanghai COVID-19 Lockdown
During Shanghai's COVID-19 lockdown in February 2022, miHoYo purchased and donated supplies to local communities and a makeshift hospital. The company also provided food, epidemic prevention supplies, and mental health counseling services to employees.
May 2022: miHoYo Invests in Oriental Space Technology's CNY 400 Million Funding Round
In May 2022, miHoYo participated in a funding round for Oriental Space Technology (Shandong) Co., Ltd., securing CNY 400 million for the development of aerospace technology, including a launch vehicle and a reusable rocket engine.
May 2022: Zenless Zone Zero First Trailer Release
On May 13, 2022, Zenless Zone Zero's first trailer was released, and pre-registration and closed beta recruitment opened.
July 2022: Lumi's First Livestream
Lumi's first live stream on bilibili took place on July 15, 2022. The stream achieved immediate success, topping the platform's popularity charts and attracting 6.6 million viewers in half an hour.
July 2022: HoYoverse Opens New Headquarters in Singapore
On July 18, 2022, HoYoverse announced the opening of its new headquarters in Jurong East, Singapore, which would also serve as the international business headquarters for The miHoYo Group.
July 2022: miHoYo Holds Its First Trade Union Congress
miHoYo held its inaugural trade union congress on July 8, 2022, with the goal of protecting employee rights and fostering high-quality development for both the company and the gaming industry.
August 2022: miHoYo Releases Video About Xinhuo Charity Program's Second Phase
On August 15, 2022, miHoYo released a video detailing the completed construction of Tongzi Primary School's new building from the first phase of the Xinhuo Charity Program. The second phase also involved constructing facilities for the student and staff dormitory at Bazha Village Central Primary School in Qinghai Province, expected to be completed in the second half of 2022.
August 2022: Zenless Zone Zero's First Closed Beta Test
On August 5, 2022, Zenless Zone Zero held its first closed beta test, called the "Tuning Test."
August 2022: miHoYo Achieves ISO/IEC 27001 and ISO/IEC 27701 Certifications
miHoYo was awarded the ISO/IEC 27001 and ISO/IEC 27701 information security certifications by the BSI in August 2022.
October 2022: miHoYo Announces Successful Completion of Information Security Audits
Following a thorough assessment, including rigorous on-site inspections, miHoYo announced in October 2022 that they had successfully met the criteria for the ISO/IEC 27001 and ISO/IEC 27701 certifications.
November 2022: miHoYo, Liu Wei, and Genshin Impact Receive Top Cultural Recognition in Shanghai
In November 2022, Shanghai miHoYo Yingtie Technology Co., Ltd. was named one of the Top Ten Cultural Enterprises, co-founder Liu Wei was recognized as one of the Top Ten People of the Year, and Genshin Impact was celebrated as one of the Top Ten Cultural Brands of Shanghai.
November 2022: miHoYo and Taofen Foundation Launch "Yuejian Weiming" Charity Project
In November 2022, miHoYo collaborated with the Taofen Foundation to launch the "Yuejian Weiming" charity project, which involved donating over 37,000 books worth 2 million Yuan to primary schools in Yunnan Province.
December 2022: miHoYo Listed Among "Top 30 National Cultural Enterprises"
Guangming Daily and Economic Daily included Shanghai miHoYo Network Technology Co., Ltd. in their "Top 30 National Cultural Enterprises" list in December 2022, recognizing miHoYo as a leading example of a technology-driven enterprise thriving under Shanghai's innovation and entrepreneurship policies.
2022: miHoYo and Genshin Impact Nominated for Multiple Awards at China Game Industry Annual Conference
At the 2022 China Game Industry Annual Conference, miHoYo and Genshin Impact received nominations for several awards, including recognition for their global reach and outstanding mobile gaming experience.
2022: miHoYo and Genshin Impact Recognized as Key Contributors to National Cultural Export
In August 2021, miHoYo, alongside Genshin Impact, was recognized as a "Key National Cultural Export Enterprise" and "Key National Cultural Export Project", respectively, for 2021-2022.
2022: Tears of Themis Receives Pocket Gamer People's Choice Award
Tears of Themis received the Pocket Gamer People's Choice Award in 2022.
2022: miHoYo and NIO Capital Co-lead Energy Singularity's First Funding Round
miHoYo, along with NIO Capital, co-led the first round of funding for Energy Singularity in early 2022.
February 2023: miHoYo and Genshin Impact Honored at 2022 China Game Industry Annual Conference
During the 2022 China Game Industry Annual Conference in February 2023, miHoYo was acknowledged as one of the Top Ten "Going Global" Game Enterprises and Genshin Impact was celebrated as one of the Top Ten Outstanding Mobile Games.
February 2023: Honkai: Star Rail Enters Jump Test Phase
On February 10, 2023, Honkai: Star Rail entered its "Jump Test" phase for PC, Android, and iOS platforms.
April 2023: Honkai: Star Rail Officially Launches
On April 26, 2023, Honkai: Star Rail officially launched.
September 2023: Cai Haoyu Steps Down as miHoYo's Legal Representative and Chairman
In September 2023, miHoYo's board of directors passed a resolution to replace Cai Haoyu as the legal representative and chairman with Liu Wei. Cai Haoyu then moved to North America to pursue interests in large language models.
October 2023: Honkai: Star Rail Releases on Playstation 5
On October 11, 2023, Honkai: Star Rail was ported to the Playstation 5 console.
November 2023: Zenless Zone Zero's Second Closed Beta Test
On November 24, 2023, Zenless Zone Zero held its second closed beta test, called the "Equalizing Test."
2023: Oriental Space Technology Aims for Rocket Launch
Oriental Space Technology, with funding from miHoYo and others, plans to launch its rocket in mid-2023.
2023: miHoYo and HoYoverse Used Interchangeably
Starting in 2023, some advertisements and occasions for HoYoverse products, such as Honkai Impact 3rd, began mentioning miHoYo or referring to both brands together.
2024: Energy Singularity's Experimental Tokamak Device Slated for Operation
Energy Singularity plans to have its experimental tokamak device operational by 2024, using the funds secured in its first funding round.
2024: Zenless Zone Zero Global Launch
Zenless Zone Zero is planned to launch globally in 2024 for PC, mobile, and PS5 platforms.
Mentioned in this timeline
PlayStation is a video game brand owned by Sony Interactive...
China officially the People's Republic of China PRC is located...
Japan is an East Asian island country located in the...
Korea is a peninsular region in East Asia comprised of...
South Korea or the Republic of Korea is located in...
Singapore is an island country and city-state in Southeast Asia...
Trending
4 hours ago Jennifer Lawrence Debuts Striking New Brunette Hair Transformation in New York City
5 hours ago Bryson DeChambeau Faces Criticism and Questions Before The Open Championship
5 hours ago Beloved Actor Hal Williams Passes Away at Age 91
5 hours ago Britney Spears Addresses Viral Freeway Sunroof Incident
6 hours ago BBC Pundit Micah Richards Mourns Tragic Passing of His Father
6 hours ago JD Vance Criticized Over Security Requests and Personal Travel Demands
Popular
Lindsey Graham is a prominent American politician serving as the...
Mitch McConnell is a prominent American politician and the longest-serving...
Cristiano Ronaldo widely considered one of the greatest footballers captains...
Candace Owens is an American conservative political commentator author and...
Elon Musk is a visionary entrepreneur and engineer known for...
Bernie Sanders is a prominent American politician and the senior...