Cognosphere, the US publisher of Genshin Impact, has admitted guilt on Federal Trade Commission (FTC) charges. This follows FTC allegations of deceptive practices regarding in-game purchases and violations of the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). The settlement includes a $20 million penalty and restrictions on in-app purchases by minors under 16 without parental consent. The FTC cited "dark patterns" used to mislead players, particularly children and teens, about the value and probability of obtaining rare items in the game. FTC Bureau of Consumer Protection Director Samuel Levin emphasized that companies employing such tactics will face repercussions.
Meanwhile, HoYoverse's Zenless Zone Zero continues its mobile market success. The game achieved a daily record of $8.6 million in mobile player spending following the release of its version 1.4 update, "And the Starfall Came." This surpasses the game's previous peak in July 2024. AppMagic data indicates Zenless Zone Zero has already accumulated over $265 million in mobile revenue. The update introduced new characters (Hoshimi Miyabi and Asaba Harumasa), locations, game modes, and enhanced mechanics, all contributing to increased player spending.
