On Thursday, a coalition of video game publishers, including Epic Games, Electronic Arts, and Roblox, among others, faced a complaint from the European Union, alleging they mislead players into unnecessary spending.
The complaint emerges amid growing worries about children’s potential addiction to gaming, with some parents asserting that game developers create products designed to enhance addictive behaviors.
The European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) and 22 affiliated organizations from various countries, including France, Germany, Italy, and Spain, submitted their grievances to both the European Commission and the European Network of Consumer Authorities on the same day.
Agustin Reyna, BEUC’s Director General, highlighted that the organizations have uncovered multiple instances of misleading practices that drive gamers to spend more money than intended. He emphasized that while the gaming environment may be virtual, it should still adhere to the same regulations as the physical world.
Reyna criticized the current system, stating, “Premium in-game currencies are intentionally designed to mislead consumers, significantly impacting children. Companies recognize the susceptibility of young players and employ tactics to encourage increased spending.”
This complaint also implicates major players such as Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard, Mojang Studios, Supercell—majority-owned by Tencent of China—and Ubisoft, a prominent French company.
The associations expressed concern that consumers, particularly children, often fail to grasp the true cost of digital items, which can lead to excessive expenditure. They also noted that players frequently find their rights compromised when engaged with premium in-game currencies.
© Thomson Reuters 2024
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