Updated October 27, 2026: This article reports official patch notes, company announcements or government materials. It does not claim Honest Fred personally played, tested or purchased the game or service.
What the FTC’s Genshin Impact Settlement Means for Teen Loot-Box Purchases
The FTC settlement with Cognosphere includes a $20 million payment and restrictions on selling loot boxes to under-16 players without parental consent.
What is confirmed
- The FTC announcement says Cognosphere agreed to pay $20 million and block children under 16 from making in-game purchases without parental consent.
- The case concerns allegations about children’s privacy and deceptive presentation of purchase costs and rare-item odds.
- The FTC specifically described loot-box sales to teens under 16 without parental consent.
- The agency also discussed influencer marketing on YouTube, TikTok and Twitch; this article does not make a new legal finding beyond the settlement materials.
Practical limits
Availability, pricing, region, membership requirements and live-service features can change. Check the official notes before changing a subscription, spending money or relying on a game feature. For related context, see Honest Fred’s gaming coverage.
