Genshin Impact Authors Banned from Selling Lootboxes to Kids, Fined $20M

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 pay $20 million in damages and will prohibit minors under the age of 16 from making in-game purchases without parental permission. Cognosphere entered a guilty plea to the FTC charges, which included accusations of deceiving players about the true value of in-game purchases and the likelihood of obtaining rare items. This deceptive practice violated the Children's Privacy Act, leading to children, teenagers, and other players spending 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 using dark patterns to mislead players, especially children and teenagers, about the true value of in-game transactions will face consequences.

Meanwhile, another game from HoYoverse, Zenless Zone Zero, continues to dominate the mobile gaming market. With the release of the version 1.4 update, titled "And the Starfall came," the game achieved a record-breaking $8.6 million in daily player spending on mobile devices alone. This surpassed the previous peak set during its July 2024 release.

According to AppMagic, Zenless Zone Zero has generated over $265 million in total revenue from mobile devices. The 1.4 update introduced new agents like Hoshimi Miyabi and Asaba Harumasa, along with new locations, modes, and enhanced game mechanics, all of which have encouraged players to spend more money.