European consumer authorities have opened coordinated action against nine video game companies over the way in-game virtual currencies are used in popular titles including Minecraft, Candy Crush Saga and Clash of Clans. The move is being carried out through the European Commission’s Consumer Protection Cooperation Network, which brings together national enforcement authorities across the bloc.

The case marks an escalation after earlier discussions with industry groups failed to produce an outcome regulators considered satisfactory for consumers. Authorities are examining whether some in-game currency systems may conflict with EU consumer law, particularly around pricing transparency, purchase pressure and protections for children.

Nine companies and several major titles are under review

Ireland’s Competition and Consumer Protection Commission announced the action on October 1 and identified the companies involved as Crytek, InnoGames, King, Mojang, Plarium, PLR Worldwide Sales, Riot Games, Supercell and Ubisoft. The review covers a range of well-known games beyond Minecraft, Candy Crush Saga and Clash of Clans.

Other titles named in the review include Valorant, For Honor, Hunt: Showdown 1896, Forge of Empires, Mech Arena and Gardenscapes. EU authorities said the investigation focuses on concerns that virtual currencies sold inside games may be infringing users’ rights.

What regulators are examining

According to the Irish regulator, the review spans seven areas. These include whether prices are shown in real money, whether virtual currency exchanges make it harder to understand the actual cost of items, and whether players are pushed to buy more currency than they need to progress.

Authorities are also looking at whether consumers receive clear information before checkout, whether the EU’s 14-day withdrawal right is respected, including for unused currency, and whether terms and conditions are fair and written in plain language. Another area under scrutiny is whether games include adequate safeguards for children and other vulnerable players.

Separate review targets Activision Blizzard titles

The CPC Network said it is also engaging separately with Microsoft-owned Activision Blizzard over Diablo Immortal and Call of Duty. That track goes beyond virtual currency concerns and also covers the collection of personal data, potentially addictive design, parental controls, marketing directed at children and account blocking.

This means the current action against the nine companies is part of a broader push by EU consumer authorities to examine how large game publishers design monetization and player protections.

Why the EU has stepped up pressure

Regulators said the latest action follows talks opened last year with federations representing the global video game industry. The CPC Network concluded that those discussions did not deliver a result that was satisfactory from a consumer-protection standpoint, and a wider market check then flagged the games now under review.

The network had already outlined principles for in-game currencies in March 2025 and had taken action against Star Stable Entertainment, whose horse-riding game is popular with children. The new step expands that approach from a single title to some of the industry’s biggest franchises. EU Consumer Protection Commissioner Michael McGrath said the expectation is that companies comply, while Irish CCPC commissioner Geoffrey Gray said consumers should be able to play without being misled about costs, pressured into purchases or left unclear about their rights. If companies do not address the concerns, national authorities could move to enforcement.

Source: beincrypto.com