Video Games Europe Rejects Accusations From Consumer Protection Organisations
– 2 min read
The European games association Video Games Europe (VGE) rejects the allegations made in the complaint that consumer protection groups submitted to the EU against seven games companies. The association and its members support and promote fair principles when purchasing in-game content. This also applies to in-game currency, VGE says, and links to a report published in Juni.
The purchase of in-game currencies is a well-established practice, and well understood by players. Our members always respect European consumer laws in how they offer these purchases", says the association's statement.
Video Games Europe also points to the wide range of games offered by the industry and the fact that many players can use entire games without paying anything. This gives them the opportunity to try out games without any upfront costs.
And further: "Video Games Europe and its members support and promote fair and transparent principles for purchases of in-game content, including for in-game currency. The PEGI Code of Conduct requires developers to ensure that the real-world cost is clear and unambiguous at the point of purchase of the in-game currency."
For example, the commitment includes ensuring that the option to make in-game purchases is clearly visible when a game is purchased, that the real-money equivalent of in-game currency purchases is clearly and unambiguously traceable, that parents can use systems to block or set limits on in-game purchases, or that gameplay is kept as separate as possible from in-game purchases.
With regard to the accusation that children can be more easily influenced by manipulative practices, Video Games Europe refers to a report published in June by Ipsos and commissioned by the association. It states that, according to parents, three quarters of all children do not spend on in-game extras.
And of those who do spend money, 73 per cent spend between 1 and 20 euros per month. Overall, the report puts the average expenditure of all children who spend money on in-game items at 31 euros per month. The consumer protection organisations put this figure at 39 euros in their complaint. Ipsos calculated 39 per cent for 2023.
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Written by
Stephan is Editor in Chief
