European Commission Could Change Premium Currency Forever

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By September 2024, the European Commission enacted the “Digital Equity Act“. With a formal grievance, a horse-themed game might have sparked a movement that could redefine and enhance your gaming journey for all time.

Following concerns raised by Swedish authorities concerning the game Star Stable Online and its publisher’s questionable business tactics, the European Commission suggests a comprehensive reevaluation of how premium currency is currently managed within the game. One of the issues highlighted about Star Stable is the practice of selling bundles that provide slightly more or less currency than required. For instance, to purchase a 300-coin horse, one must buy either 200 or 400 coins, thereby generating additional revenue for the developer from leftover coins in players’ accounts. Furthermore, allegations have been made that influencers were compensated to promote the game without disclosing its use of premium currency.

As a passionate gamer, I can’t help but feel that a rule like this could make game developers reassess their strategies. The intention here is to examine “manipulative tactics”, which essentially means techniques that subtly push you into buying more than you intend. It seems that young gamers are the ones who bear the brunt of these practices the most, with statistics showing they spent around €31 monthly on in-game currency back in 2024. Although Star Stable Entertainment has been given a month to address these allegations, the commission is pressing for much more than just a response.

  • Any amount of currency is supposed to be purchased at a fixed price. So if you only need 500 coins, you should also have the option to buy only 500 coins.
  • Limited time events, after which the content is unavailable, should be banned.
  • A refund policy for the items purchased AND the currency.

Key Principles For Trustworthy Gaming Environments

Additionally, regulations need to be established that will serve as minimum standards for premium in-game currency. Essentially, this means treating in-game money like real cash, making it subject to legal regulations. Also, the worth of this currency should not be hidden by bundling it with other items or providing multiple currencies for purchase simultaneously. Moreover, this practice should be avoided, particularly if there is no mechanism for parental control.

The Industry’s Reaction

The European Game Developers Federation and Video Games Europe have collectively voiced their disappointment through a shared announcement.

It’s no wonder that big game development studios, in particular, are voicing their concerns. In fact, they’ve gone as far as implying they might stop releasing their games in Europe if these new ethical guidelines are imposed. However, it’s highly unlikely that they’ll follow through with this threat, given the significant market share Europe represents and the difficulty of completely abandoning it. To put it simply, just like Apple doesn’t make iPhones with USB-C ports exclusively for the European market, game developers are unlikely to ignore such a large consumer base.

What’s Next?

Although countries like Belgium have already prohibited loot boxes and their mechanisms, gambling persists. However, this could shift swiftly if all of Europe enforces similar regulations. It’s possible that in no time, we won’t need to fret about losing the Skin from last year, which we may have missed out on.

What do you think about the progress that’s being made?

Do you think the breakthrough will come soon? Or is it wishful thinking?

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2025-04-11 22:09