Reuters reports that a European consumer watchdog has filed lawsuits against game publishers Epic Games, Electronic Arts, and Roblox over the misuse of in-game currency. The European Consumer Watchdog said it had “identified numerous cases where gamers have been tricked into spending their money,” and called on authorities to “provide a safe gaming environment for consumers.”
BEUC noted that consumers cannot see the actual price of digital items purchased using in-game currency and said in-game purchases should always be displayed in real money. It added that companies’ claims that gamers prefer premium in-game currency are false, that consumers are often denied their rights when using such currency, and that children are particularly susceptible to these “manipulative tactics.”
“Regulators need to act and make it clear that although the gaming world is virtual, it must follow the rules of the real world,” BEUC Secretary General Augustin Reyna said in a statement. “Premium in-game currencies are deliberately deceiving consumers and causing great harm to children. Companies are well aware of children’s vulnerability and use tactics to get young consumers to spend more money.”
The lawsuit also names Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard, Mojang Studios, Tencent’s Supercell and Ubisoft.
Video Games Europe, whose members include Epic Games, Roblox, Activision Blizzard, Electronic Arts, Supercell and Ubisoft, said in a separate statement that consumers are already well informed about in-game currencies. “The PEGI (Pan-European Games Information) Code of Conduct requires developers to ensure that the real-world cost of in-game currency is clear and unambiguous at the point of purchase,” the group told Reuters. “Our members always respect European consumer law when offering this method of purchase.”
The use of premium currency purchased with real money has been controversial, especially among younger players. In 2022, Epic was hit with a record fine by the FTC for, among other things, allowing children to purchase Fortnite’s in-game currency, V-Bucks, without parental consent until 2018. The regulator said Epic ignored more than 1 million user complaints and employee concerns about unfair charges.
