Since its debut in 2020, Genshin Impact has done a very good job of convincing players to purchase in-game items and currency with real-world money. Now, Genshin Impact’s parent company, HoYoverse, may have to send some of that money back to players following a settlement with Federal Trade Commission.
According to Bloomberg, the FTC is near the end of negotiations with HoYoverse to settle a case that began last summer over Genshin Impact’s loot box-like currency system. The terms of the deal haven’t been disclosed yet, but it’s likely going to include a rebate of some amount to players who heavily invested their money into the game.
Genshin Impact doesn’t have a traditional loot box system. Instead, it utilizes a complex Gacha system that allows players to convert real money into 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 successful, and this system has drawn comparisons to online gambling.
It’s unclear if the settlement with the FTC will also compel HoYoverse to rethink Genshin Impact’s approach to in-game currency and wishes. The United Kingdom’s government has declined to create laws against loot boxes, and instead wants the video game industry to police itself.
Blizzard’s Hearthstone was one of the first games to popularize randomized loot boxes, and one of the first to face a backlash from players over it. Even Nintendo’s Mario Kart Tour hasn’t been immune from attracting a lawsuit targeting the game’s loot box system. It’s an issue that will likely continue to be controversial.