PS13020-PS13039 - The Italian Competition Authority launches two investigations into gaming company Activision Blizzard (Microsoft group)

According to the Authority, the video games "Diablo Immortal" and "Call of Duty Mobile" may be in breach of the Consumer Code, particularly due to prompts that encourage in-game purchases to be made without adequate awareness, including by minors

The Italian Competition Authority has launched two investigations into Activision Blizzard (Microsoft group), relating to the videogames "Diablo Immortal" and "Call of Duty Mobile" - described as free to play but offering in-game purchases - for engaging in misleading and aggressive practices, as well as breaching consumers' contractual rights. In the Authority's view, the company may be acting in breach of consumer protection rules and, in particular, the duty of professional diligence required in a sector that is particularly sensitive to the risks of gaming-related addiction.

The investigations focus on the possible use of deceptive user-interface design aimed at inducing consumers to play more often, extend their gaming sessions and take up promoted offers. Examples include repeated prompts, both during and outside gameplay, urging users not to miss out on rewards - also through in-app messages and push notifications - as well as to purchase time-limited items before they become unavailable. These practices, together with strategies that make it difficult for users to understand the real value of the virtual currency used in the game and the sale of in-game currency in bundles, may influence players as consumers - including minors - leading them to spend significant amounts, sometimes exceeding what is necessary to progress in the game and without being fully aware of the expenditure involved.

Furthermore, according to the Authority, the parental control features pre-set by the company appear to be aggressive, as they automatically default to options that offer a lower level of protection for minors (such as allowing in-game purchases, unlimited play time and interaction with other players) without there being any active involvement or supervision by a parent or guardian. The Authority also intends to examine how consent for the processing of personal data is obtained when creating an account, as it seems that consumers - including minors - are led to select all consent options, including consent to profiling for commercial purposes, in the belief that they are faced with a mandatory choice. Finally, the investigations focus on whether players receive adequate information about their contractual rights, as current practices appear to encourage users to relinquish those rights unknowingly (for example, the cooling-off period). The Authority is also assessing the company's ability to block gaming accounts unilaterally, without providing adequate reasons, support or an opportunity to be heard, inevitably resulting in the loss of money - in some cases substantial - spent on digital content.

Rome, 16 January 2026