Video game firms hit with EU complaint for ‘deceiving consumers’ Reuters

By Foo Yun Chee

BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Video game companies Epic Games, Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: ), Roblox and four others were hit with an EU consumer complaint on Thursday, accusing them of misleading players into spending money.

The move came amid growing concerns about children becoming addicted to games, with some parents claiming that video game makers intentionally designed products that led them to become addicted to the games.

The European Consumer Organization (BEUC) and 22 of its members in Europe, including France, Germany, Italy and Spain, filed a complaint on Thursday with the European Commission and the European Network of Consumer Authorities.

“BEUC members have identified numerous cases where players are being misled into spending money. Regulators must act, making it clear that although the world of gambling is virtual, it must still respect real-world rules,” he said. the general director of BEUC, Agustin Reyna. a statement.

“Premium in-game currencies today are intentionally deceiving consumers and have a big impact on children. Companies are well aware of the vulnerability of children and use gimmicks to entice younger consumers to spend more,” he said.

The complaint also targets Microsoft (NASDAQ: ) Activision Blizzard (NASDAQ: ), Mojang Studios, Supercell, which is majority-owned by China’s Tencent, and French bet Ubisoft.

The associations said they were concerned that consumers, especially children, could not see the true cost of digital items, leading them to overspend, and that consumers were often denied their rights when using premium in-game coins.