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 $20 million in damages and will prohibit minors under the age of 16 from making in-game purchases without parental consent. Cognosphere entered a guilty plea to the FTC's allegations, which included violating the Children's Privacy Act and deceiving players about the true value of in-game purchases and the likelihood of obtaining rare items. This deceptive practice led children, teenagers, and other players to spend hundreds of dollars 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 children and teenagers, 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. With the release of its version 1.4 update, titled "And the Starfall came," the game set a new record by generating $8.6 million in daily player spending on mobile devices alone. This surpassed the previous peak achieved during its July 2024 release.
According to AppMagic, Zenless Zone Zero has amassed over $265 million in total revenue from mobile platforms. The 1.4 update introduced new agents, such as Hoshimi Miyabi and Asaba Harumasa, along with new locations, modes, and enhanced game mechanics, all of which have spurred increased player spending.
