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 and probability of obtaining rare in-game items. This violated the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). The settlement also includes restrictions on in-app purchases by minors under 16 without parental consent. FTC Bureau of Consumer Protection Director Samuel Levin emphasized that companies using deceptive "dark patterns" to manipulate players, especially children, will face repercussions.

Meanwhile, HoYoverse's Zenless Zone Zero continues its mobile market success. The recent 1.4 update, "And the Starfall Came," saw a record-breaking $8.6 million in daily player spending on mobile platforms, surpassing its July 2024 launch peak. AppMagic data shows Zenless Zone Zero has already accumulated over $265 million in mobile revenue. The update's introduction of new characters (Hoshimi Miyabi and Asaba Harumasa), locations, game modes, and improved mechanics contributed significantly to increased player spending.