Today, January 18th, the European Parliament passed a resolution on video games and gaming. Consumers should be better protected, especially young people. A focus of the new video game policy is on in-game purchases and loot boxes. Representatives of the gaming industry are “concerned”: They don’t like to see the focus on stricter measures for in-game purchases.
What exactly did Parliament do? The European Parliament today voted in favor of a report about video games and the users of those games. The report came from MP Adriana Malonado López, a Spanish Social Democrat, and received 577 votes in favour, 56 against and 16 abstentions.
The report contains over a dozen proposals on how the EU should deal with video games in the future.
Strengthen consumer protection, question in-game purchases
These are the most important things that the EU should now tackle: Among other things, it is about making video games more transparent. The age recommendation PEGI is mentioned as a “good system”, which could become even more transparent and give consumers even more information about the content, the target group and possible in-game purchases.
The EU Commission should also investigate the influence that loot boxes and other ways of buying in-game things have on consumers – and if it thinks it’s right, take action.
In Belgium and the Netherlands, some games with loot boxes, such as Diablo Immortal, have not been released.
EA calls loot boxes a fairly ethical surprise mechanism
The commission is also to determine whether gold farming is in any way connected to financial crimes and human rights abuses.
In addition, game developers are urged to avoid “making games that are addictive.”
Other things that the EU finds important are:
Gaming Disorder – Are We All Sick?
EU wants to promote gaming – Announces annual prize
Are there only problems in gaming? No, the EU also expressly praises gaming and says it wants to develop a “European video game strategy” in order to unleash the full potential of the industry.
Therefore, they now want to advertise an annual video game prize.
It said the report would highlight the industry’s positives, but also raise awareness of social risks, such as the impact of gaming on mental health. This could affect young players in particular. Therefore, one wants to strengthen uniform rules for the EU and consumer protection and direct a special focus on minors.
With gamescom, Europe has at least one major gaming fair:
MeinMMO at gamescom 2022 – These are our highlights
Gaming Industry Representatives Express “Concern”
How is the industry reacting? Representatives of two associations that represent the gaming industry have already made a joint statement. One is “concerned” that the focus is on stricter rules for in-game purchases.
Consumer protection in Europe is already sufficient to sanction unfair measures. The problem here is not the rules, but a lack of enforcement of those rules.
In a statement it says: European players have more choice of excellent games than ever before, which is due to the increased variety of business models that the gaming industry has developed. Lawmakers should protect the right of access to cultural products while maintaining the high standard of European consumer protection.
Here in Germany we only had a discussion about loot boxes a few months ago. But the people against whom the criticism was directed did not even feel addressed. They called for strict rules from the legislature, maybe they will come really soon:
FIFA 23: Twitch streamer Trymacs distances itself from loot boxes after ZDF criticism, shoots €9,300 in 2 weeks later