A group representing European consumer protection organizations has filed a complaint with the European Commission about the use and marketing of in-game digital currencies in the video game industry.
BEUC's Complaint
The European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) and 22 member organizations from 17 countries on Sept. 12 called for the European Commission and the European Network of Consumer Authorities (CPC-Network) to take stronger enforcement against video game companies that maximize consumer spending by using in-game currencies.
Consumer Concerns
A report from the watchdogs noted the growth of in-game purchases using in-game digital currencies, especially in free-to-play games and those played by children, a practice they claimed now generates significant revenues for game companies. The consumer protection group is concerned about the dual nature of these currencies as both digital content and means of payment, creating legal uncertainty in the European Union. > “Following our analysis, we have reasons to believe that consumers fall prey to many deceptive practices when buying premium in-game currencies in video games.”
Examples and Impact
The groups argued that consumer rights should apply to purchases made with in-game currencies, contrary to some industry claims. Some of the game companies mentioned included Activision Blizzard, Electronic Arts, Epic Games, Mojang Studios, Roblox Corporation, Supercell, and Ubisoft. The report claimed Epic Games’ flagship game Fortnite can make up to $2 million per day from in-game purchases and the average total spending by children on in-game purchases per month increased around 18% from almost $36 in 2020 to $43 in 2023. The organizations called for stronger enforcement and clearer guidelines from regulatory bodies to address these issues in the gaming industry.
Consumer protection organizations continue to advocate for stricter regulation of in-game currencies to ensure consumer rights are protected in Europe.
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