The authors of Genshin Impact were forced to ban selling lootboxes to children and fined $20 million dollars

Cognosphere, the U.S. publisher of the popular game Genshin Impact, has accepted charges brought against them by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC). As part of the settlement, Cognosphere has agreed to pay a hefty $20 million in damages. Additionally, they have committed to prohibiting minors under the age of 16 from making in-game purchases without parental consent. This decision follows Cognosphere's guilty plea to FTC charges, which accused them of violating the Children's Privacy Act and misleading players about the true value of in-game purchases and the likelihood of obtaining rare items. The deceptive practices led many young players, including children and teenagers, to spend significant amounts of money, often hundreds of dollars, on items with a low chance of acquisition.

Samuel Levin, Director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection, emphasized that companies employing dark patterns to mislead consumers, especially vulnerable groups like children and teenagers, will face repercussions. This case serves as a stern reminder to gaming companies about the importance of transparency and ethical practices in in-game transactions.

Meanwhile, another game from HoYoverse, Zenless Zone Zero, continues to dominate the mobile gaming market. The release of its version 1.4 update, titled "And the Starfall came," set a new record with daily player spending reaching $8.6 million on mobile devices alone. This surpassed the previous peak set during the game's launch in July 2024. According to AppMagic, Zenless Zone Zero has now amassed over $265 million in total revenue from mobile platforms. The 1.4 update introduced new agents, Hoshimi Miyabi and Asaba Harumasa, along with new locations, modes, and enhanced game mechanics, all of which have spurred increased player engagement and spending.