Cognosphere, the US publisher of Genshin Impact, has pleaded guilty to Federal Trade Commission (FTC) charges and agreed to a $20 million settlement. The FTC accused Cognosphere of deceptive practices, including misleading players about the value of in-game purchases and the odds of obtaining rare items, thereby violating the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). The settlement also includes restrictions on in-app purchases by minors under 16 without parental consent. FTC Director Samuel Levin emphasized that companies employing manipulative "dark patterns" to deceive players, especially children, will face repercussions.
Meanwhile, HoYoverse's Zenless Zone Zero continues its mobile market dominance. 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 even its July 2024 launch peak. AppMagic data reveals Zenless Zone Zero has already amassed over $265 million in mobile revenue. This surge is attributed to the update's introduction of new characters (Hoshimi Miyabi and Asaba Harumasa), locations, game modes, and enhanced mechanics, all incentivizing increased player spending.
