Genshin Impact Lootbox Ban Nets $20M Fine, Child Sales Prohibited

Cognosphere, the US publisher of Genshin Impact, has agreed to a settlement with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The settlement includes a $20 million penalty and a ban on in-app purchases by children under 16 without parental consent. The FTC accused Cognosphere of deceptive practices, including misleading players about the value of in-game purchases and the odds of obtaining rare items, thereby violating the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). The FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection Director, Samuel Levin, emphasized that companies employing deceptive "dark patterns" will face repercussions, especially when targeting children and teens.

Meanwhile, HoYoverse's Zenless Zone Zero continues its mobile market dominance. The recent version 1.4 update, "And the Starfall Came," saw a record-breaking $8.6 million in daily player spending on mobile platforms alone, surpassing even its July 2024 launch peak. AppMagic data indicates Zenless Zone Zero has amassed over $265 million in mobile revenue. This surge is attributed to the update's introduction of new characters (Hoshimi Miyabi and Asaba Harumasa), locations, game modes, and enhanced mechanics, all incentivizing increased player spending.