EU Cracks Down on In-Game Currencies Across 11 Games
Minecraft, Candy Crush Among 11 Games Targeted in EU Virtual Currency Crackdown
European consumer authorities have opened coordinated actions against 10 video game companies over how they sell and price in-game virtual currencies, the European Commission said Wednesday.
The actions are being carried out through the Consumer Protection Cooperation (CPC) Network, which brings together national enforcement bodies across the EU and is coordinated by the Commission. The network focuses on potential consumer-law breaches that affect players across borders.
The Commission said the companies and games were selected for their broad reach, availability across devices, and a range of age ratings. The overall concern is that virtual currencies can make it harder for players to understand how much they are spending in real money.
The CPC Network named Activision Blizzard UK, Crytek, InnoGames, King.com, Mojang, Plarium Europe, PLR Worldwide Sales, Riot Games, Supercell, and Ubisoft EMEA in a joint statement.
Authorities said nine games have been identified for further assessment:
- Hunt: Showdown 1896
- Forge of Empires
- Candy Crush Saga
- Minecraft
- Mech Arena
- Gardenscapes
- Valorant
- Clash of Clans
- For Honor
The broader coordinated action also lists two additional games as part of the crackdown: Diablo Immortal and Call of Duty Mobile.
The move builds on a dialogue regulators opened with the video game industry last year after publishing guidelines on the use of in-game currencies. Under rules previously set out by the CPC Network, games should clearly display the real-world price of in-game items and currency packs, and should not use multiple currencies or exchange mechanics in ways that obscure actual costs.
For crypto and digital asset observers, the case is a reminder that regulators are tightening expectations around consumer transparency for token-like instruments—especially where they act as an intermediary between users and real-money purchases. However, the CPC guidelines cited in the action exclude cryptocurrencies, meaning tokens that fall under crypto-specific regimes sit outside the framework written for in-game currencies bought with real money.
The CPC Network includes national authorities such as Ireland’s Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC), reflecting the cross-border nature of the enforcement effort.
