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Electronic Arts, Roblox, Epic Games, and four other videogame developers were accused in an EU complaint of deceiving gamers into overspending.
On September 12th, the European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) and 22 of its members from Germany, France, Spain, and Italy submitted the complaint to the European Commission and the European Network of Consumer Authorities.
Videogame companies Epic Games, Electronic Arts, Roblox and four others were hit with an EU consumer complaint accusing them of misleading gamers into spending money https://t.co/ATMRJOnSiw pic.twitter.com/rUgrIwNIYB
— Reuters Legal (@ReutersLegal) September 11, 2024
The complaint also targets French company Ubisoft, Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard, and Mojang Studios (partly owned by China’s Tencent). The groups expressed concerns that users, particularly minors, struggle to grasp the actual cost of digital items, which ultimately leads to overspending.
BEUC Director General Agustin Reyna highlighted that gamers are often misled into spending money and called for regulatory action. He noted that despite the virtual nature of gaming, it must comply with real-world regulations and criticized companies for exploiting children’s vulnerabilities to encourage excessive spending.
Reaction of Videogame Companies
Video Games Europe, which includes EA, Epic Games, Activision Blizzard, Supercell, Roblox, and Ubisoft, stated that purchasing in-game currencies is a well-established practice understood by players.
The association also affirmed that its members comply with European consumer laws. The Pan European Game Information (PEGI) Code of Conduct requires developers to disclose the real-world cost of in-game currencies at purchase.
Parents Sound the Alarm
The BEUC complaint highlights widespread worries about minors becoming addicted to gaming. Parents have filed numerous lawsuits alleging that video game companies design their games to promote addiction and overspending.
At the same time, defendants argue that arbitration agreements and First Amendment protections—guaranteeing freedom of speech and expression—protect video games from such legal challenges.
