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

Cognosphere, the US publisher of Genshin Impact, has pleaded guilty to Federal Trade Commission (FTC) charges and agreed to a $20 million settlement. The FTC alleged Cognosphere engaged in deceptive practices, misleading players, particularly minors, 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 settlement includes a ban on in-app purchases by children under 16 without parental consent. FTC Bureau of Consumer Protection Director Samuel Levin emphasized that companies employing deceptive "dark patterns" will face repercussions for misleading players, especially children.

Meanwhile, HoYoverse's Zenless Zone Zero continues its mobile market success. Following the release of version 1.4, "And the Starfall Came," the game reached a record daily player spending of $8.6 million on mobile platforms alone, surpassing its previous peak in July 2024. AppMagic data reveals Zenless Zone Zero has accumulated over $265 million in mobile revenue. Update 1.4's introduction of new characters (Hoshimi Miyabi and Asaba Harumasa), locations, game modes, and mechanics fueled increased player spending.