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 by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The company has agreed to a hefty settlement of $20 million and will implement new policies prohibiting minors under the age of 16 from making in-game purchases without parental consent. This follows Cognosphere's guilty plea to FTC allegations of violating the Children's Privacy Act and deceiving players about the true value of in-game purchases and the likelihood of obtaining rare items. These deceptive practices led many children, teenagers, and other players to spend substantial amounts of money on items with a very low chance of acquisition.

Samuel Levin, Director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection, emphasized that companies employing dark patterns to mislead players, especially young ones, about the real value of in-game transactions will face repercussions. This case serves as a strong reminder to gaming companies about the importance of transparency and ethical practices in their monetization strategies.

In other news, HoYoverse's game, Zenless Zone Zero, continues to dominate the mobile gaming market. The release of its version 1.4 update, "And the Starfall came," saw the game achieve a staggering $8.6 million in daily player spending on mobile devices alone, surpassing its previous peak from the July 2024 release. According to AppMagic, Zenless Zone Zero has now generated over $265 million in total revenue from mobile platforms. The success of the 1.4 update can be attributed to the introduction of new agents such as Hoshimi Miyabi and Asaba Harumasa, along with new locations, modes, and enhanced game mechanics, all of which have spurred further player investment.