Online gaming has become a major industry not just for its gameplay, but for the real money it brings in through battle passes, cosmetic items, skins, emotes, and loot boxes. Games like League of Legends, Fortnite, Overwatch 2, Marvel Rivals, and others rely heavily on microtransactions to fuel their revenue. But while buying a new skin or battle pass might seem harmless, the way many games present their pricing, especially through virtual currencies it can make it easy for players to lose track of how much they're really spending.
That’s exactly what the European Commission and the Consumer Protection Cooperation Network (CPCN) are targeting with a new set of guidelines aimed at curbing deceptive practices in games that use virtual currency. The change follows an investigation into Star Stable Online, a multiplayer horse-themed game, which was found to have practices deemed “particularly harmful to children.” This has now sparked a wider push to better protect consumers in the European Union.
The new EU guidelines introduce seven key principles that developers and publishers are encouraged to follow:
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Prices for in-game items must be clear and transparent.
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Hiding the true cost of items through obscure virtual currency systems should be avoided.
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Players shouldn't be forced into buying more virtual currency than they need.
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All key purchase details should be disclosed before any transaction.
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Players must retain their legal rights, including the right to withdraw from a purchase.
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Contracts should be fair and written in simple, clear language.
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Game design should consider and respect vulnerable users, including children.
These changes don’t outlaw virtual currencies outright sadly, but they do challenge how they’re currently used. Players in the EU may soon begin seeing real-world prices displayed more clearly, removing the guesswork and confusion around conversion rates and bundles that often encourage overspending.
Though these guidelines aren’t legally binding yet, they serve as a strong deterrent. Developers who ignore them may find themselves the target of lawsuits, ones that could now be backed by the European Commission and the CPCN. Giving consumers a very strong case whenever they do find companies that are breaking the guidelines.
For now, this move only affects the EU. The United States and United Kingdom have not yet followed suit, meaning microtransaction pricing may continue to remain murky in those regions. Still, this is a significant step forward in promoting transparency in the gaming world especially for younger or more vulnerable players.
Are you happy about these new guidelines? Do you wish they were more or less strict on microtransactions in video games? Let us know what you think in the comments below! As always, stay tuned to Gamefragger.com for more video game news!