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 $20 million 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 FTC alleged Cognosphere misled players, particularly children and teens, about the value of in-game purchases and the odds of obtaining rare items, leading to significant, often unintentional, spending. The settlement includes a ban 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 dominance. The game's version 1.4 update, "And the Starfall Came," saw a record-breaking $8.6 million in daily player spending on mobile devices alone, surpassing even its July 2024 launch peak. AppMagic data reveals Zenless Zone Zero has already amassed over $265 million in mobile revenue. The update's additions—new agents like Hoshimi Miyabi and Asaba Harumasa, expanded locations, new game modes, and enhanced mechanics—clearly fueled increased player spending.