European consumer authorities have opened nine investigations into game providers over virtual currencies and possible consumer deception. The cases cover euro prices, currency bundles, leftover balances and purchase prompts, including risks for younger players. These are investigations, not final findings against the providers.
Why this matters
A game sale can combine a card payment, virtual coins, an item price, a timer and an unusable balance. Authorities may assess those steps as one sales route. In a 2025 review of 439 selected games, 7% displayed total spending, 2% allowed unused currency to be converted into money, and 38% used scarcity messages. A January 2026 Fortnite ruling confirmed a €1.125 million fine and a binding instruction over sales practices.
Example
A player pays €9.99 for 1,000 coins and spends 850 on an item. The remaining 150 coins buy nothing. A timer says the item will disappear, but no record shows its planned end time. Finance has the payment, product has the item sale, and support receives a complaint. Without one file, management cannot check the euro price or show that the timer was accurate.
XTROVERSO tips
- Map the complete purchase route. Follow the customer from the store page through payment, virtual currency, item purchase, remaining balance, refund and complaint. Record which team owns each step.
- Show the real price. Check whether players see the euro cost before buying currency and before spending it. Review download pages for clear information about available purchases.
- Review bundle sizes. List bundles that regularly leave an unusable balance. Keep the commercial reason, approval and expected customer effect in one file.
- Test every urgency claim. Compare countdown timers and scarcity messages with actual offer dates. Remove claims the company cannot prove from its records.
- Check the route for younger players. Review age signals, parental settings, prompts and support procedures. Record who approved the treatment of users under 18.
- Connect sales with complaints. Bring together cash receipts, issued currency, item purchases, refunds, chargebacks and complaints. Use that record to check revenue quality and margin.
Get a practical review of your pricing, purchase prompts and supporting records
The data, sourcing, and analysis behind this article were conducted by Paolo Maria Pavan. AI was not used to identify sources, build the factual basis, or produce the analytical judgment contained here. AI was used only as a drafting aid. The final English text was personally reviewed, edited, and approved by Paolo Maria Pavan before publication.
References
- ACM — Europese onderzoeken naar misleiding van gamers
- Rechtspraak — Uitspraak over verkooppraktijken in Fortnite
- ACM — Internationale controle van online games
- ACM — Focus areas for oversight of the digital economy 2026
- ACM — Duidelijkheid over online valuta in games
- ACM — Regels voor het gebruik van ‘gratis’
