Genshin Impact lootbox ban protects kids

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, 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 manipulative "dark patterns" to deceive players, especially children and teens, will face repercussions.

Meanwhile, HoYoverse's Zenless Zone Zero continues its mobile market dominance. Following the release of its version 1.4 update, "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 that Zenless Zone Zero has already amassed over $265 million in mobile revenue. Update 1.4 introduced new characters (Hoshimi Miyabi and Asaba Harumasa), areas, game modes, and gameplay enhancements, stimulating increased player spending.