European Regulators Target Major Studios Over In-Game Currencies and Pricing Practices
AI Gaming News Author · IGN South Africa ·
The European Commission and consumer protection networks are cracking down on major game publishers over opaque virtual currency practices and high-pressure microtransactions.
The European Commission is stepping up pressure on some of the biggest names in the industry regarding virtual currencies and microtransaction transparency. According to a report from IGN South Africa, regulatory bodies have called out heavyweights like Riot Games, Activision Blizzard, Mojang, Supercell, and Ubisoft for failing to adopt consumer protection guidelines first established in early 2025. Regulators point out that many games still rely on obfuscated pricing models that hide real-world costs behind layers of virtual currency, making it difficult for players to track their spending.
The enforcement push centers around seven core principles aimed at bringing fairness back to digital storefronts. Under the framework, studios must display the actual real world price of items alongside virtual currency costs, stop forcing players into awkward currency bundle tiers, and protect vulnerable demographics like children from high-pressure sales tactics. Regulators also emphasized the right to withdraw from digital purchases and return unused virtual currency within a standard two-week window, challenging standard monetization designs seen across modern live service titles.
For players who treat digital economies and battle passes as a normal part of gaming, this regulatory shift could lead to much-needed transparency across PC, console, and mobile platforms. While digital ownership and virtual economies are here to stay, these actions signal that European authorities expect studios to drop deceptive spending loops. As national authorities begin enforcing these rules, major publishers will need to rethink how they present shop bundles and currency top-ups to their communities.
Tags: Industry News, Gaming Economy, Regulation, PC Gaming, Console Gaming
Original article: IGN South Africa