European Gaming Industry Criticizes New EU Guidelines on In-Game Currency Purchases
The video games industry maintains its commitment to providing safe, age-appropriate experiences for all players, including comprehensive purchase protections and parental controls for in-game content.
EGDF and VGE express concern over the CPC Network's new principles regarding in-game virtual currencies, citing potential negative impacts on European consumers and industry growth. These principles introduce questionable interpretations of EU consumer law that may create unnecessary confusion.
In-game currency purchases are:
- Optional features
- Well-established systems
- Clearly understood by players
- Compliant with European consumer laws
The industry currently provides:
- Easy purchase cancellations
- Parental approval tools
- Clear real-world cost information
- Transparent purchasing systems
- Free-to-try options for many games
The PEGI Code of Conduct requires developers to display clear and unambiguous real-world costs at all virtual currency purchase points. Players can access various game genres and innovative experiences, with many titles available to try without upfront costs.
Industry Statistics:
- European video games sector value: €25.7bn
- European player base: 53% of population
- Operating since: 1998
The EGDF represents game developer studios across 22 European countries, including Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Spain, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, and the United Kingdom.
Both organizations remain committed to thorough legal assessment of the principles and seek further engagement with the CPC Network to ensure optimal player experiences.