Genshin Impact developer MiHoYo has announced mandatory age verification for all US player accounts following a legal settlement with the Federal Trade Commission. Starting May 20, 2024, new registrations and existing players must verify their age before accessing the game. This change stems from MiHoYo losing a court case against the FTC, which resulted in restrictions on selling gacha mechanics (randomized loot boxes) to players under 16 years old.
Age verification will apply to all US accounts without exception. If players don’t complete the verification process, they will be unable to access the game after the May deadline. While MiHoYo hasn’t specified the exact verification method yet, it could range from a simple date-of-birth entry to more rigorous ID verification, which some players worry about regarding privacy.
This FTC crackdown specifically targets Genshin Impact’s monetization model, which relies heavily on gacha mechanics where players spend real money for randomized chances at rare characters and weapons. The settlement specifically bans selling these mechanics to minors under 16 without parental consent, dealing with growing worries about gambling-like elements in games popular with younger players.
MiHoYo has already rolled out some changes to comply with the settlement. The game’s shop interface now displays clearer information about pull odds and potential costs. Players can now see that guaranteeing a specific character could cost up to $475.20 in the worst-case scenario, making it more obvious how much actual money is needed.
Interestingly, the verification requirement currently only affects Genshin Impact, not other MiHoYo titles like Honkai Star Rail or Zenless Zone Zero. This shows the FTC’s action was aimed mainly at Genshin Impact’s big audience in America rather than the company’s business as a whole.
This move comes as gaming regulators worldwide are paying more attention to loot box mechanics. Several countries, including China, South Korea, and some European nations, already have curbs on similar setups, especially for younger players. The US has usually been slower to act, so this FTC decision could mean big changes for gaming companies here.
Parents’ wallets breathe a sigh of relief
Free-to-play accounts will also need to complete age verification even if they never make purchases, which might turn some new players away from trying the game. This extra hoop to jump through could affect Genshin Impact’s ability to pick up new players in the US.
