European Commission Calls Out Riot, Activision, Mojang, and More Over In-Game Currency and Transactions

The European Commission is targeting nine video game companies for their handling of digital currencies and pricing of in-game items. This move aims to safeguard players' rights, following the Consumer Protection Cooperation Network's Key Principles on in-game virtual currencies, released in March 2025. Despite extensive discussions with game developers and publishers, the CPC Network found that many companies failed to implement meaningful changes to their games.

The Commission's new actions focus on seven key principles, including clear pricing, non-obfuscation of costs, non-forcing of unwanted purchases, clear pre-purchase information, respect for withdrawal rights, fair terms, and protection of vulnerable consumers. Games must now display the real-world price of in-game items purchased with virtual currency, avoid currency exchanges or multiple currencies, and not force players to buy excessive amounts of virtual currency to progress.

Players should also be able to withdraw from contracts within two weeks, including for unused virtual currency. Commissioner Michael McGrath emphasized the industry's responsibility to ensure games are fair, especially for children.