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), pleading guilty to charges of deceptive practices and violating the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). The settlement includes a $20 million penalty and restrictions on in-app purchases by minors under 16 without parental consent. The FTC alleged Cognosphere misled players about the value of in-game purchases and the odds of obtaining rare items, leading children and teens to spend significant sums on items with low acquisition probabilities. FTC Bureau of Consumer Protection Director Samuel Levin emphasized that companies employing deceptive "dark patterns" will face repercussions for misleading players, especially minors.

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 alone, surpassing even its July 2024 launch peak. AppMagic data indicates Zenless Zone Zero has already accumulated over $265 million in mobile revenue. The update's additions—new characters (Hoshimi Miyabi and Asaba Harumasa), locations, game modes, and improved mechanics—contributed significantly to increased player spending.