BRUSSELS, Sept 12 (Askume) – Epic Games, Electronic Arts (EA.O) , Roblox (RBLX.N) and four other video game companies were hit with EU consumer complaints on Thursday, accusing them of misleading gamers and taking money that was not spent.
The move comes amid growing concerns over gaming addiction in children , with some parents claiming that video game manufacturers intentionally design products to cause addiction in children.
The European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) and its 22 members from across Europe, including France, Germany, Italy and Spain, filed a complaint on Thursday with the European Commission and the European Network of Consumer Authorities.
BEUC Director General Agustin Reyna said in a statement, “BEUC members have identified numerous cases where gamers have been misled into spending money. Regulators must take action to make it clear that even though the gaming world is virtual, real-world rules still need to be followed.”
“Today, premium in-game currencies are deliberately deceiving consumers, having a devastating impact on children,” he said.
The complaint also targets Microsoft (MSFT.O) Activision Blizzard, Mojang Studios, Supercell ( controlled by China’s Tencent (0700.HK) ) and French peer Ubisoft (UBIP.PA).
The association said it is concerned that consumers, especially children, are unable to see the true value of digital goods, leading to excessive spending, and that consumers are often disenfranchised when it comes to using premium in-game currencies.
