Italy investigates Activision Blizzard for pushing in-game purchases

4 months ago

Italy is investigating Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard for alleged misleading and aggressive sales practices in Diablo Immortal and Call of Duty Mobile.
The investigation focuses on design elements that encourage prolonged play and in-game purchases, particularly targeting children.
The games are advertised as free-to-play but heavily monetize through in-game purchases, including cosmetics and progression boosts.
Concerns include unclear virtual currency value, bundled sales, and excessive spending without full awareness.
Parental control defaults allow minors to make purchases, play unrestrictedly, and chat with others in-game.
Privacy issues arise from pre-selected consent options during sign-up, prompting scrutiny over data collection practices.
The regulator suspects violations of consumer protection rules, especially regarding gaming addiction risks.

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