Cognosphere, the U.S. publisher of Genshin Impact, has admitted guilt and settled Federal Trade Commission allegations regarding deceptive monetization practices. The company agreed to pay $20 million in civil penalties and implement stricter age verification measures, banning unauthorized purchases by players under 16.

The FTC investigation revealed Cognosphere knowingly misrepresented both the actual value of in-game purchases and the true probabilities of obtaining rare items. According to regulators, these tactics deceived thousands of players - including minors - into spending hundreds of dollars chasing low-probability rewards.

"Our action demonstrates there will be consequences for companies employing dark patterns to mislead players about microtransaction values," stated Samuel Levin, Director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection. "This holds particularly true when children and teenagers become targets."

Meanwhile, HoYoverse's Zenless Zone Zero continues its mobile dominance following its recent update. The version 1.4 release "And the Starfall came" achieved staggering daily revenue of $8.6 million from mobile alone - setting a new benchmark since the game's July 2024 launch.

Mobile analytics firm AppMagic reports Zenless Zone Zero has surpassed $265 million in cumulative mobile revenue. The latest update introduced compelling new content including playable agents Hoshimi Miyabi and Asaba Harumasa, expanded game areas, fresh gameplay modes, and enhanced mechanics - all contributing to increased player spending.