Cognosphere, the US publisher of Genshin Impact, has admitted to Federal Trade Commission (FTC) charges and will pay a $20 million penalty. The settlement includes a ban on in-app purchases by children under 16 without parental consent. The FTC accused Cognosphere of deceptive practices, misleading players – especially minors – about the value and probability of obtaining rare in-game items. This violated the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). FTC Director Samuel Levin emphasized that companies using manipulative "dark patterns" to deceive players, particularly children, will face repercussions.
Meanwhile, HoYoverse's Zenless Zone Zero continues its mobile market success. The recent 1.4 update, "And the Starfall Came," saw a record-breaking $8.6 million in daily player spending on mobile platforms alone, surpassing its July 2024 launch peak. AppMagic data reveals over $265 million in total mobile revenue for Zenless Zone Zero. The update introduced new characters (Hoshimi Miyabi and Asaba Harumasa), areas, game modes, and gameplay enhancements, fueling increased player spending.
