Update 1/19/25: Hoyoverse has provided a statement regarding its settlement. It reads:
“Animation-style games and shows are well-received by global audiences and players across various ages. Genshin Impact is a popular free-to-play, anime-style game designed for older teens and adults. While we believe many of the FTC’s allegations are inaccurate, we agreed to this settlement because we value the trust of our community and share a commitment to transparency for our players. Under the agreement, we will introduce new age-gate and parental consent protections for children and young teens and increase our in-game disclosures around virtual currency and rewards for players in the U.S. in the coming months.”
The Original Story continues below:
Genshin Impactpublisher HoYoverse has settled with the US Federal Trade Commission, with the game publisher being hit with a massive $20 million fine. The fine is due to the way the game’s gacha works, as well as its handling of minors' data, with the US federal government accusingGenshin Impactof deceiving its players, particularly children and teens, into spending real money when the odds of gaining what was wanted were very low.
Genshin Impacthas been an extremely popular mobile game, but it has also received numerous complaints from players regarding its gacha system. to acquire new characters to fight with and to acquire weaponry for them, players participate in the game’s “Wish” gacha system, similar to a loot box, letting players perform a pull for a chance at what the gacha’s current banner is offering. However, the odds involved and the age of the audience targeted were things the FTC took issue with.
FTC Takes Issue with Minors Playing Genshin Impact
The settlement also covers alleged mishandling of data involving minors, as well as targeting them forGenshin Impactgachapurchases. In addition to producing the multi-million dollar fine, HoYoverse has agreed to no longer sell gacha wishes to any users under the age of 16 without parental consent. All personal information from children under the age of 13 will be deleted by the company, and gacha wishes must be made available to purchase with real money, rather than first converting it to an in-game currency.
A spokesperson for the game commented on the agreement, indicating that HoYoverse does not admit any wrongdoing, claiming “many” of the allegations are incorrect. However, the company has agreed to the terms because the company wants to ensure the trust ofGenshin Impact’s playerbase. The new settlement must be approved by a judge, but it seems unlikely for it to be thrown out.
WHERE TO PLAY
Step into Teyvat, a vast world teeming with life and flowing with elemental energy.You and your sibling arrived here from another world. Separated by an unknown god, stripped of your powers, and cast into a deep slumber, you now awake to a world very different from when you first arrived.Thus begins your journey across Teyvat to seek answers from The Seven — the gods of each element. Along the way, prepare to explore every inch of this wondrous world, join forces with a diverse range of characters, and unravel the countless mysteries that Teyvat holds…
