Genshin Impact, the popular action role-playing game developed by HoYoverse, is set to implement a new age verification process for all its players in the United States. This initiative is part of a settlement agreement with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) concerning the game's gacha mechanics. The deadline for this verification is July 18, and it aims to ensure compliance with regulations regarding in-game purchases made by minors.
As part of the $20 million settlement, HoYoverse is now prohibited from selling loot boxes to players under the age of 16 without explicit parental consent. In a brief announcement, HoYoverse confirmed that the age verification process will begin rolling out to American players by May 20. Players will be required to verify their age during the login or account creation process.
Failure to complete the age verification by the July 18 deadline will result in account suspension. This includes the deletion of friends lists and chat records, with no further notifications sent to affected players. However, it is important to note that children under 16 will still be able to play Genshin Impact, but they will lose the ability to make independent loot box purchases that are essential for accessing collectible characters in the game.
Currently, there is no nationwide regulation governing loot boxes in the United States. However, the FTC's lawsuit against HoYoverse focused on the game's confusing purchase system, the misleading representation of odds for obtaining rare characters, and the illegal targeting of children while collecting their data. HoYoverse commented on the settlement, stating, “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.”
This settlement is not an isolated incident; it follows the FTC's previous actions against other gaming companies, such as Epic Games, the developers of Fortnite. In that case, the FTC secured a significant settlement and provided refunds to players affected by the use of dark patterns in game design that pressured players into making excessive in-game purchases.
In addition to the age verification process, the settlement with the FTC mandates that HoYoverse implement several new consumer protection measures. These include providing players with a straightforward way to purchase loot boxes directly with real money, disclosing accurate odds for loot boxes, and currency exchange rates. Moreover, the company is required to delete any personal information collected from children under the age of 13.
As Genshin Impact continues to grow in popularity, these changes reflect a growing awareness of the need for responsible gaming practices, particularly when it comes to protecting younger audiences from potentially exploitative in-game mechanics.
