EU investigates major gaming companies over in-game currency practices

European consumer protection authorities have launched coordinated actions against several major video game publishers to investigate potentially misleading monetization practices. Led by the Italian competition authority, the investigation targets companies including Activision Blizzard, Mojang, Ubisoft, Riot Games, Crytek, Supercell, InnoGames, King, Plarium, and Playrix.

The probe focuses on the use of platform-specific in-game currencies, which authorities argue makes it difficult for players to track actual spending in euros. Specific concerns include the sale of currency bundles that do not align with the prices of in-game items, forcing players to purchase excess virtual credit, and the use of ‘dark patterns’ to encourage spending.

Other areas of scrutiny include insufficient youth protection settings, unclear terms and conditions, and a lack of transparency regarding withdrawal rights. The investigation covers a wide range of popular titles, such as Minecraft, Valorant, Candy Crush Saga, Clash of Clans, and For Honor, to determine if these business models violate EU consumer protection laws.