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 alleged Cognosphere engaged in deceptive practices, misleading players, particularly minors, about the value and probability of obtaining rare in-game items, thus violating the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). FTC Director of the Bureau of Consumer Protection, Samuel Levin, emphasized that companies employing deceptive "dark patterns" 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 reveals Zenless Zone Zero has already generated over $265 million in mobile revenue. The update introduced new characters (Hoshimi Miyabi and Asaba Harumasa), locations, game modes, and enhanced mechanics, fueling increased player spending.