The European Commission’s Consumer Protection Cooperation (CPC) Network has launched a coordinated probe into nine game companies — including Mojang (Minecraft) and King (Candy Crush) — to examine how in-game currencies are displayed and sold. The review focuses on seven areas such as price transparency, hidden item costs, pressure to overspend and the 14-day withdrawal right, plus protections for children. A separate, broader inquiry into Activision Blizzard also looks at data collection, potentially addictive design and child-directed marketing. Regulators warn companies to comply or face national enforcement, though no deadlines or penalties have been published.
EU Launches Coordinated Probe Into Minecraft, Candy Crush and Seven Other Games Over In‑Game Currency Practices
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European consumer authorities have opened a coordinated investigation into nine video-game companies to examine how their games display and sell in-game currencies. The probe, announced by Ireland's Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) on October 1, is being carried out through the European Commission's Consumer Protection Cooperation (CPC) Network and follows earlier industry talks that regulators said were unsatisfactory.
Companies and Titles Under Review
The firms involved are Crytek, InnoGames, King, Mojang, Plarium, PLR Worldwide Sales, Riot Games, Supercell and Ubisoft. Regulators named several titles for scrutiny, including Minecraft, Candy Crush Saga and Clash of Clans, and said additional games under review include Valorant, For Honor, Hunt: Showdown (1896), Forge of Empires, Mech Arena and Gardenscapes.
What Regulators Are Looking At
According to the CCPC, the investigation focuses on seven specific areas of potential consumer harm:
- Whether prices are shown in real money (price transparency)
- Virtual-currency exchanges that obscure the real cost of items
- Designs or mechanics that pressure players to buy more currency than needed to progress
- Clarity of information provided before checkout
- Application of the 14-day withdrawal (cooling-off) right, including for unused virtual currency
- Whether terms and conditions are fair and written in plain language
- Safeguards for children and other vulnerable players
A Parallel, Broader Review
The CPC Network is separately engaging Microsoft-owned Activision Blizzard in a broader probe covering titles such as Diablo Immortal and Call of Duty. That review also examines data-collection practices, potentially addictive design features, the effectiveness of parental controls, marketing aimed at children and account-blocking policies.
Background and Potential Consequences
Last year regulators held talks with industry federations but found the outcome insufficient for consumer protection. A subsequent large-scale market check flagged products now under deeper scrutiny. In March 2025 the CPC Network published principles for in-game currencies and has already taken action against Star Stable Entertainment, a developer of a horse-riding game popular with children.
“Millions of consumers across Europe play video games, many of whom are children,” Geoffrey Gray, Commission Member at the CCPC, said. “Consumers should be able to enjoy these games without being misled about costs, pressured into purchases, or left unclear about their rights.”
EU Consumer Protection Commissioner Michael McGrath also warned companies to comply: “The game must be fair, and the rules must be respected.” National authorities could take enforcement action against firms that do not address the concerns, although the CPC Network has not disclosed specific deadlines or penalties.
What This Means For Players
Players across the EU may in future see clearer price information, simpler terms, stronger protections for children and clearer rules on refunds and unused virtual currency if regulators’ concerns lead to changes or enforcement. For now, the probe signals increased regulatory scrutiny of common monetization practices in major gaming franchises.
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