EU targets virtual currencies in games: What about Horizon?
Hi everyone!
I recently came across a very important piece of news regarding the European gaming market that could directly or indirectly affect all of us – especially now, as Horizon Worlds is heavily focusing on the mobile market.
The European Commission and the Consumer Protection Coordination Network (CPC) have officially launched formal investigations and are putting pressure on industry giants (such as Mojang/Minecraft, Riot Games, Ubisoft, Supercell, and Activision) over unfair practices related to virtual currencies.
What are the EU regulators focusing on exactly?
No more hiding real prices: Prices of in-game items and currencies must be clearly displayed in real-world currency (e.g., Euros or Dollars) so that players (especially minors) don't lose track of how much they are actually spending.
Ban on forced bundles: Practices where players are forced to buy large currency bundles, leaving them with leftover "dust" or unused remnants, are being heavily targeted.
Right of withdrawal: Implementing a 14-day right of withdrawal from digital purchases, including unused virtual currency.
Fighting "Dark Patterns": The EU wants to crack down on psychological tricks that pressure users into making immediate purchases.
I have a couple of questions related to this:
Do you think these strict EU regulations could cause the monetization system within MHCP to change in the future?
As MHCP creators, should we expect any new rules or guidelines when creating our games/items down the line?
Let me know what you think!
