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 Bureau of Consumer Protection Director Samuel Levin emphasized that companies employing deceptive "dark patterns" will face repercussions, particularly when targeting children and teens.

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 indicates 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, incentivizing increased player spending.