Gaming Giants Reported – Exploiting Children's Weaknesses

"Minecraft", "Fortnite" and "Roblox" manipulate children to spend large sums of money on in-game purchases, claim several European consumer organizations. The giants behind the games are now being reported. We see a whole industry that has made it its business model to exploit children's weaknesses, says Sinan Akdag of Sweden's Consumers.

» Updated: September 25 2024

» Published: September 12 2024

Gaming Giants Reported – Exploiting Children's Weaknesses
Photo: Anders Humlebo/TT

Sweden's consumers and 20 other European consumer organizations have reacted strongly to the strategies used by game giants to lure children and young people into spending money on in-game purchases. The strategies are accused of being sneaky and manipulative.

The organizations view the use of virtual currencies, such as V-bucks in "Fortnite" or FC Points in the football game "FC" (formerly "Fifa"), as problematic. Players buy the virtual currency with real money, which is then spent in the game.

The only reason we can see is that they are trying to hide the real costs of the purchases from consumers, says Sinan Akdag, international secretary at Sweden's consumers.

Spend more

Three out of four parents claim that their children do not spend any money in games, but among those who do, the average monthly spend was equivalent to 444 kronor last year, an increase from 375 kronor in 2020, according to the industry organization Video Games Europe.

We question whether it is okay to target this type of very aggressive marketing at children in order to get them to want to buy these things in games, and to pester their parents to buy, says Akdag.

The organization, together with the European consumer organization BEUC and ten other consumer organizations, is now reporting seven game giants to the EU's consumer authority network, CPC.

Rounding rules

Game companies usually require terms and conditions to be accepted in order to make purchases, such as that content can be removed at any time or that prices may change. The rules are circumvented by claiming that the player is only buying a license to use the virtual currency. When it is then used to make purchases in the game, no rules apply.

Then the game companies mean that the rest of consumer law also flies out the window, says Akdag.

The organizations demand that purchases be reported in the country's currency, that the default setting in games should be that the option to make purchases is turned off, and that unfair terms cease.

Almost the entire gaming industry uses these marketing methods. Right now, we want the consumer protection network to look at these seven games. But we want to see new rules and regulations for the entire industry, says Sinan Akdag.

The reported game companies and games are:

Activision Blizzard – "Diablo IV"

Electronic Arts – "FC" (formerly "Fifa")

Epic Games – "Fortnite"

Mojang Studios – "Minecraft"

Roblox Corporation – "Roblox"

Supercell – "Clash of clans"

Ubisoft – "Raibow six siege"

According to the industry organization Video Games Europe (VGE), three out of four parents claim that their children do not spend any money in games.

Of those who spend, 64 percent spend between 1-20 euros (approximately 11-230 kronor) per month. On average, children spend 39 euros (444 kronor), an increase from 33 euros in 2020, according to VGE, largely in line with inflation.

The report is based on an Ipsos survey from June 2023, in which 2,808 parents of children who play games participated in the UK, France, Germany, Spain, and Italy.

Source: VGE "In-game spending", 2023.

TTT
By TTThis article has been altered and translated by Sweden Herald

More news

Swedish Minister Pushes for Journalist's
2 MIN READ

Swedish Minister Pushes for Journalist's Release in Talks with Turkey

Queen Silvia Resting After Successful
1 MIN READ

Queen Silvia Resting After Successful Foot Surgery

Police Clarify Timeline in Örebro
1 MIN READ

Police Clarify Timeline in Örebro Shooting Investigation

Busch Criticizes Influencers for Fueling
2 MIN READ

Busch Criticizes Influencers for Fueling Body Image Issues in Youth

Energy Minister Ebba Busch Faces
1 MIN READ

Energy Minister Ebba Busch Faces Constitutional Committee Review

Invasive Leaf Flatworm Detected in
1 MIN READ

Invasive Leaf Flatworm Detected in Blekinge, Raising Concerns

Carbon Monoxide Blamed for Kebnekaise
1 MIN READ

Carbon Monoxide Blamed for Kebnekaise Deaths, No Crime Suspected

Two Sentenced for Unexploded Grenade
1 MIN READ

Two Sentenced for Unexploded Grenade Attack on Malmö Restaurant

Simona Mohamsson Takes Charge to
3 MIN READ

Simona Mohamsson Takes Charge to Revitalize Sweden's Liberal Party

Record Number of Swedes Register
1 MIN READ

Record Number of Swedes Register for University Entrance Exam

Shots Fired at House in
1 MIN READ

Shots Fired at House in Hudiksvall, Police Investigate Attempted Murder

Teen Girl Stabbed on Bus
1 MIN READ

Teen Girl Stabbed on Bus in Eslöv; Four Teens Detained

Demirok Steps Down as Center
1 MIN READ

Demirok Steps Down as Center Party Leader Citing Internal Leaks

Swedish Care Worker Jailed for
1 MIN READ

Swedish Care Worker Jailed for Defrauding Elderly of Millions

Ancient Greek Harbor Unearthed by
3 MIN READ

Ancient Greek Harbor Unearthed by Stockholm University Team

Suspected Murder in Hässleholm: One
1 MIN READ

Suspected Murder in Hässleholm: One Person Detained

Teenage Girl Stabbed on Bus
1 MIN READ

Teenage Girl Stabbed on Bus in Eslöv; Four Teens Arrested

Ex-Regional Official in Sweden Faces
1 MIN READ

Ex-Regional Official in Sweden Faces Charges in Pension Fund Bribery Case

Shingles Vaccine Linked to Lower
2 MIN READ

Shingles Vaccine Linked to Lower Dementia Risk in Older Adults

Critics Challenge Proposal to End
3 MIN READ

Critics Challenge Proposal to End Summer Grazing for Swedish Dairy Cows

Sweden Proposes Transparency for Lottery
1 MIN READ

Sweden Proposes Transparency for Lottery Purchases Supporting Parties

Elderly Man's Death in Gullspång
1 MIN READ

Elderly Man's Death in Gullspång Fire Investigated as Suspected Murder

Sweden Tightens Control on Opioids
1 MIN READ

Sweden Tightens Control on Opioids and Hazardous Substances

Sweden Braces for Economic Impact
2 MIN READ

Sweden Braces for Economic Impact from US Tariffs, Government Warns

Swedish Man Faces Arson Charges
1 MIN READ

Swedish Man Faces Arson Charges for House Fire in Norway

Man Charged in Fatal Lund
1 MIN READ

Man Charged in Fatal Lund Knife Attack Linked to Drug Deal

Electric Scooter Accidents Surge by
1 MIN READ

Electric Scooter Accidents Surge by 30 Percent in 2024, Young Riders Most Affected

Skåne Manager Faces Charges for
1 MIN READ

Skåne Manager Faces Charges for Embezzling Millions from Municipalities

Teen Faces Court in Sweden
2 MIN READ

Teen Faces Court in Sweden for Alleged Sect-Linked Knife Attack

Elderly Man Critically Injured in
1 MIN READ

Elderly Man Critically Injured in Kävlinge Villa Fire

Somalia Expels Swedish Aid Chief
1 MIN READ

Somalia Expels Swedish Aid Chief Anna Saleem Högberg

Sweden Proposes Tighter Security at
2 MIN READ

Sweden Proposes Tighter Security at Migration Detention Centers

Swedish Foreign Minister to Discuss
2 MIN READ

Swedish Foreign Minister to Discuss Journalist's Detention with Turkey

Casino Cosmopol in Stockholm to
1 MIN READ

Casino Cosmopol in Stockholm to Close Following Riksdag Decision

Sweden's Malmer Stenergard to Discuss
2 MIN READ

Sweden's Malmer Stenergard to Discuss Journalist's Detention with Turkey

Parents in Sweden Jailed for
1 MIN READ

Parents in Sweden Jailed for Locking Children in Basement

75-Year-Old Woman Cleared of Murder
1 MIN READ

75-Year-Old Woman Cleared of Murder Charges in Ale

Bribery Convictions in Sweden See
1 MIN READ

Bribery Convictions in Sweden See Rise in Gross Offenses

Suspect Detained in Norrköping Murder
1 MIN READ

Suspect Detained in Norrköping Murder Investigation

Sabotage Cuts Power to 500
1 MIN READ

Sabotage Cuts Power to 500 Homes in Småland, Police Investigate