Cognosphere, the U.S. publisher of 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 has committed to prohibiting minors under the age of 16 from making in-game purchases without parental consent. This comes after Cognosphere entered a guilty plea to the FTC charges, which accused the company of violating the Children's Privacy Act and deceiving players about the true value of in-game purchases and the likelihood of obtaining rare items. The FTC's actions stem from concerns that Genshin Impact misled children, teenagers, and other players, leading them to spend substantial amounts of money on items with a low chance of acquisition.
Samuel Levin, Director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection, emphasized that companies using dark patterns to mislead players, especially vulnerable groups like children and teenagers, about the real value of in-game transactions will face repercussions.
In other gaming news, Zenless Zone Zero, another title from HoYoverse, continues to dominate the mobile gaming market. The game's version 1.4 update, titled "And the Starfall came," led to a record-breaking $8.6 million in daily player spending on mobile devices. This surpasses the previous peak set during the game's initial release in July 2024. According to AppMagic, Zenless Zone Zero has now generated over $265 million in total revenue from mobile platforms alone. The success of the 1.4 update can be attributed to the addition of new agents like Hoshimi Miyabi and Asaba Harumasa, as well as new locations, modes, and enhanced game mechanics, all of which have driven players to invest more in the game.
