Key information
European consumer protection authorities have launched coordinated actions against 10 video game companies, including major industry players like Activision Blizzard and Ubisoft. These investigations focus on the use of dark patterns that potentially endanger minors and individuals susceptible to gaming addiction.
The enforcement efforts target practices that hide actual financial costs, specifically the sale of virtual currencies in fixed bundles that do not match item prices. This design often forces players to purchase excess currency, as seen in games like Destiny 2, Call of Duty, and Fortnite, where one-way conversion rates prevent users from reclaiming unused funds.
Fortnite is shifting its strategy starting October 14, allowing players to buy the precise amount of V-Bucks required for purchases. This update will extend to Rocket League and Fall Guys on Xbox, Nintendo, PC, Android, and the Fortnite web Item Shop, though PlayStation remains excluded from this specific change for now.
Under the European Commission's guidance, these regulatory actions aim to improve transparency and fairness. Authorities are also scrutinizing inadequate parental control mechanisms to better safeguard consumer and minor rights within the gaming ecosystem.
