The European Commission says EU consumer-protection authorities are scrutinizing specified practices involving in-game virtual currencies at Ubisoft and, in a separate action, Microsoft and Activision Blizzard. These are ongoing coordinated actions—not a blanket ban on microtransactions or findings that the companies broke the law.
What the EU actions cover
The Commission says the Consumer Protection Cooperation (CPC) Network has launched coordinated action against nine videogame companies over commercial practices related to in-game virtual currencies. Ubisoft EMEA SAS is among the companies named, and For Honor is one of the games in focus. The Commission says the practices are suspected of potentially breaching EU consumer law; it has not announced a final finding of liability. European Commission: coordinated actions
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A separate action, launched in early 2026, concerns Microsoft Corporation and Activision Blizzard and the games Call of Duty Mobile and Diablo Immortal. The Commission lists concerns beyond virtual currency, including consumer-data collection, potentially addictive design, preselected parental-control settings, direct exhortations to children, missing pre-contractual information and unilateral account blocking. The two actions should not be treated as one case or as identical allegations. European Commission: coordinated actions
| Action | Companies and games named | Concerns identified by the Commission | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nine-company virtual-currency action | Includes Ubisoft EMEA SAS; For Honor is among the games in focus | Commercial practices related to in-game virtual currencies | Ongoing; the Commission says national enforcement measures may follow if concerns are not addressed |
| Separate action launched in early 2026 | Microsoft Corporation and Activision Blizzard; Call of Duty Mobile and Diablo Immortal | Virtual-currency use and sales, data collection, design, child-directed prompts, parental-control defaults, pre-contract information and account blocking | Ongoing; CPC authorities may consider national enforcement if concerns remain |
Are video game microtransactions illegal in the EU?
The cited Commission materials do not describe a general prohibition on microtransactions or virtual currencies. They describe consumer-law principles and scrutiny of particular commercial practices. The question is whether a practice in a specific context complies with consumer-protection rules—not whether every optional in-game purchase is unlawful.
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The CPC Network’s key principles, published on 21 March 2025, explain how consumer law applies to in-game virtual currencies. They address clear pricing and information before purchase, practices that obscure the cost of content or compel consumers to buy currency, consumers’ withdrawal rights, and the protection of vulnerable consumers, especially children. The principles are non-exhaustive guidance, not a court judgment. CPC Network: key principles on in-game virtual currencies
What the principles mean for players
Prices should be understandable before purchase
Players should receive transparent pricing and relevant pre-contractual information. When content is priced in a game’s virtual currency, the principles address practices that can make its real-world cost difficult to understand. The Commission has not published a finding here that any particular listed game violated this principle.
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Currency systems should not conceal costs or force purchases
The principles call attention to designs that hide what game content costs or require a consumer to buy virtual currency as a condition of obtaining it. Their focus is on how the purchase works and is presented to consumers, rather than on treating virtual currency itself as automatically unlawful.
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The guidance also addresses consumers’ right of withdrawal. It does not establish that every digital purchase can always be cancelled: the applicable right depends on the circumstances and the relevant consumer-law rules. The Commission’s action page does not report a final determination about withdrawal rights in either action.
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Children and other vulnerable consumers need particular protection
The principles emphasize vulnerability, especially for children. In the separate Microsoft and Activision Blizzard action, the Commission specifically lists direct exhortations to children and preselected parental-control settings among its concerns. Those are matters under scrutiny, not findings that the named games have already breached the law.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How coordinated action can lead to enforcement
A CPC coordinated action is a consumer-authority process for addressing suspected practices; it is not itself a final court judgment. The Commission says the actions are ongoing. If concerns are not resolved, national authorities may take enforcement measures under applicable law. The Commission’s page does not report a final liability finding or remedy against the companies named in these actions. European Commission: coordinated actions
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The principles were adopted in March 2025, led by the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets and the Norwegian Consumer Authority. A Commission workshop report dated 3 June 2025 says the principles were discussed with consumer authorities, game companies, consumer organisations, European Consumer Centres, academics and other experts. European Commission: workshop report
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