Since its launch in 2020, Genshin Impact has truly excelled in persuading players to purchase in-game items and currency using real money. Now, the game’s parent company, HoYoverse, might have to return a portion of that money to players following a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission.
According to Bloomberg, the FTC is on the verge of concluding negotiations with HoYoverse regarding a case that started last summer about Genshin Impact’s loot box-like currency system. The specifics of the agreement haven’t been made public yet, but it is likely to include a refund amount for players who have significantly invested in the game.
Genshin Impact does not employ a traditional loot box system. Instead, it utilizes a complex Gacha mechanism that permits players to exchange real money for in-game currency, which must then be converted again into another currency before players can “wish” for a specific character or rare item. However, there are no guarantees that the wish will be fulfilled, and this method has been likened to online gambling.
It remains uncertain whether the agreement with the FTC will prompt HoYoverse to reassess Genshin Impact’s approach to in-game currency and desires. The UK government has opted not to enact legislation against loot boxes, instead encouraging the gaming industry to self-regulate.
Blizzard’s Hearthstone was one of the first games to popularize randomized loot boxes, and it was also among the first to face backlash.