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 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 tactics, especially those targeting minors, will face repercussions.

Meanwhile, HoYoverse's Zenless Zone Zero continues its strong performance in the mobile gaming market. The recent 1.4 update, "And the Starfall Came," saw a record-breaking $8.6 million in daily player spending on mobile platforms alone, surpassing its July 2024 launch peak. AppMagic data indicates Zenless Zone Zero has already amassed over $265 million in mobile revenue. The update introduced new characters (Hoshimi Miyabi and Asaba Harumasa), areas, gameplay modes, and enhanced mechanics, contributing to increased player spending.