Cognosphere, the U.S. publisher behind the popular game Genshin Impact, has accepted charges brought by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The company has agreed to pay a hefty $20 million in damages and will now prohibit minors under the age of 16 from making in-game purchases without parental consent. This decision comes after Cognosphere pleaded guilty to FTC charges, which included violations of the Children's Privacy Act and accusations of deceiving players about the true value of in-game purchases and the odds of obtaining rare items.
The FTC's investigation revealed that Genshin Impact misled children, teenagers, and other players, leading them to spend significant amounts of money on items with a low probability of acquisition. Samuel Levin, Director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection, emphasized that companies employing dark patterns to mislead players, especially young ones, about the value of in-game transactions will face repercussions.
Meanwhile, another game from HoYoverse, Zenless Zone Zero, continues to dominate the mobile gaming market. The release of its version 1.4 update, "And the Starfall came," saw the game achieve a record-breaking $8.6 million in daily player spending on mobile devices alone. This surpassed the previous peak set during the game's launch in July 2024.
According to AppMagic, Zenless Zone Zero has amassed over $265 million in total revenue from mobile platforms. The success of the 1.4 update can be attributed to the introduction of new agents, such as Hoshimi Miyabi and Asaba Harumasa, along with new locations, game modes, and enhanced mechanics, all of which have spurred increased player spending.
