Italy Probes Activision Blizzard Over In-Game Purchase Practices
Italy has initiated dual investigations into Activision Blizzard, a subsidiary of Microsoft, over allegations of misleading sales tactics in its mobile gaming titles, specifically Diablo Immortal and Call of Duty Mobile. The Autorità Garante della Concorrenza E Del Mercato (AGCM), Italy’s competition regulator, raised concerns regarding the methods employed to attract users, particularly minors, to engage in extended gameplay and make in-game purchases.
Investigation Focus
The AGCM’s inquiries target various design elements that could potentially mislead players. Key points of focus include:
- The encouragement of prolonged gameplay among young users.
- Strategies that obscure the true value of virtual currencies used in-game.
- The bundling of in-game currency sales, which may mislead consumers regarding necessary expenditures.
Concerns Over Spending Practices
The regulator highlighted that these practices could influence players, including minors, inadvertently leading them to spend excessive amounts without full awareness of their financial commitments. The AGCM noted that while games like Diablo Immortal are marketed as free-to-play, they incorporate in-game purchases that can inflate costs significantly.
Monetization in Free-to-Play Games
In Diablo Immortal, players can purchase in-game currency and cosmetics, with prices reaching up to $200. Such transactions often occur frequently, prompting the AGCM to investigate their implications.
Parental Controls and Privacy Issues
Additionally, the investigations examine the effectiveness of parental control features in these games. Default settings permit minors to:
- Make in-game purchases without restrictions.
- Play for extended periods of time.
- Interact with other players through in-game chat.
The AGCM also expressed privacy concerns, particularly regarding how the games encourage users to consent to data collection during the sign-up process. The authority is assessing whether Activision Blizzard’s practices establish a breach of consumer protection laws.
Regulatory Statements
The AGCM emphasized that the company might be failing to meet its obligations in consumer protection, particularly in a sector prone to gaming addiction risks. As of now, Activision Blizzard has made no public comments regarding these investigations.
The inquiries reflect growing scrutiny of in-game purchase practices, especially how they affect younger audiences. The outcome of these investigations could lead to tighter regulations in the gaming industry.
