Early Life and Education
Liu Wei's interest in gaming and ACG (anime, comics, and games) culture began during his school years, which would later fuel his entrepreneurial endeavors. He pursued his passion further at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, where he studied computer science. During his university years, he wrote light novels and created fan games, further shaping his ambitions. His university experience also helped him in his future entrepreneurial and managerial roles.
Rise to Success
In 2012, Liu Wei, alongside his college roommates Cai Haoyu and Luo Yuhao, founded miHoYo. The team's original goal was to fill the gap in the domestic anime culture and create a doujin game brand. The company initially struggled to raise funds. In a 2019 interview, Liu recalled how they were repeatedly turned down by several venture capital firms. The team focused on developing games with the goal of creating an immersive gaming world. The first investor was Song Tao, who put in 1 million yuan in 2012 in exchange for a 15% stake.
After the success of Guns Girl Z, miHoYo launched the Honkai series, which found favor with the growing number of anime fans in China and globally. Honkai: Star Rail, released in April 2023, has been downloaded over 100 million times. The company expanded further, with Genshin Impact becoming one of the highest-grossing mobile games.
Key Business Strategies
A key strategy for miHoYo has been its focus on the anime style and the ACG culture. Moreover, the company has focused on a fan interaction strategy from the start. Liu Wei himself engaged with the gaming community, which earned him the nickname "Da Wei" (Chinese: 大伟哥; lit. 'Brother Big Wei') from players. The company also relies on a strong and innovative team which includes the co-founders. In 2023, Cai Haoyu stepped down as chairman, and Liu took over.
Philanthropy
Information on Liu Wei's specific philanthropic activities is limited in the search results. However, miHoYo, as a company, supports various educational and social initiatives related to technology and the arts. They are also invested in deep tech and AI.