Cognosphere, the U.S. publisher behind the popular game Genshin Impact, has accepted charges brought by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC). As part of the settlement, Cognosphere 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. The company entered a guilty plea to the FTC charges, which accused them of deceiving players about the true value of in-game purchases and the chances of obtaining rare items. This deceptive practice misled children, teenagers, and other players into spending significant amounts of money on items they were unlikely to acquire.
Samuel Levin, Director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection, emphasized that companies employing "dark patterns" to mislead players, especially children and teenagers, about the value of in-game transactions will face repercussions. This case underscores the FTC's commitment to protecting consumers from such manipulative practices.
Meanwhile, HoYoverse's other major title, Zenless Zone Zero, continues to dominate the mobile gaming market. With the release of its version 1.4 update, "And the Starfall came," the game set a new record, 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 data from 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, game modes, and enhanced mechanics, all of which have spurred increased player engagement and spending.
