Europeans Sue to Ban In-Game Purchases in Fortnite and Minecraft

European Consumer Group Seeks to Ban In-Game Purchases in Fortnite and Minecraft

The European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) has filed a complaint against several popular video game publishers, including Epic Games, Supercell, and Microsoft, citing unfair practices and breach of consumer protection. The complaint focuses on in-app and in-game purchases that the BEUC claims are misleading and exploitative, especially towards children.

The BEUC argues that consumers, particularly under-18 gamers, are overspending in games because they cannot see the real costs clearly enough. The organisation is making several recommendations to European regulators, including an outright ban on the use of in-game and in-app paid currencies and factoring in-app purchases into game age ratings.

Recommendations for Regulators

Agustín Reyna, director general of BEUC, stated that “the online world brings new challenges for consumer protection, and it shouldn’t be a place where companies bend the rules to increase profits.”

The BEUC’s complaint comes as part of a wider effort to regulate in-app and in-game purchases. The organisation has previously taken aim at TikTok over its use of virtual currency, and this new complaint could bring more attention to the issue.

Video Games Europe, a group representing major video games in the region, has pushed back against the BEUC’s claims, stating that the purchase of in-game currencies is a well-established practice and that its members always respect European consumer laws.