Multiple game developers are under investigation by the European Commission over their microtransactions, specifically targeting bundles of currencies like V-Bucks and Destiny 2‘s Silver. The companies named in the European Commission’s actions include Ubisoft, Activision, Mojang, and more.
Microtransactions have long been a hot-button issue within the gaming industry, becoming more prevalent than ever with the rise of live-service games. Many games have implemented smaller purchases for everything from cosmetics to in-game boosts, allowing players to pay for skins in games like Fortnite or for faster in-game progression. Some games even feature their own currency that fans have to purchase before using the in-game shop, often sold in pre-set bundles at fixed price points. Now, the European Commission is taking aim both at microtransactions in video games as a whole, and more specifically at the sale of in-game currency.
European Commission Targeting Game Companies Over Microtransactions
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Image via Activision, Treyarch -
Image via Mojang -
Image via Bungie
The European Commission has confirmed that it is investigating ten companies over in-game currency microtransactions. The list includes some of the biggest developers in gaming as primary offenders, naming companies like Activision Blizzard, Mojang, and Ubisoft, among several others. The investigation specifically centers on the sale of in-game currency, aiming to encourage policies that allow gamers to purchase exactly as much currency as they need for in-game items, instead of being restricted to pre-set bundles. The European Commission notably did not include automatic fines for violating companies, aiming for greater transparency and parental controls for microtransactions.
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The new actions from the European Commission come as some companies have already moved to adjust their practices. Epic Games made a major change to its purchase policy for Fortnite‘s V-Bucks in October 2025, allowing players to buy the exact amount of V-Bucks needed to purchase cosmetics. The change was also implemented in two other games under the Epic Games umbrella, with both Rocket League and Fall Guys benefiting from the policy update. The prevalence of microtransactions, particularly with loot boxes, has even seen companies like Valve facing lawsuits from official government bodies.
The debate over microtransactions has been an industry-wide issue for many studios, often leading developers to make drastic changes. EA Sports’ College Football 27 saw significant backlash for its microtransactions following the annual game’s release, with EA even updating the game to remove microtransactions from its single-player game modes. Many games that choose to exclude microtransactions have even been praised for the decision not to include in-game monetization, with Rockstar Games confirming that the highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto 6 will not include any microtransactions.
Recent years have seen government bodies growing more involved in regulation of the video game industry through legal action. Roblox has been the subject of numerous lawsuits over its alleged failure to protect its underage users, including Los Angeles County, Texas, and Louisiana all filing lawsuits against the Roblox Corporation. The Stop Killing Games initiative has also seen recognition from governments around the world, including the Vice President of the European Parliament showing support for the movement in 2025. The European Commission’s investigation looks to bring even more scrutiny to microtransactions across gaming.
