Soon you could be thanking horses for changing premium currency in online games forever – for the greater good.
In September 2024, the European Commission passed the "Digital Fairness Act". Through an official complaint, a game about horses could now have set off a revolution that will change and improve your gaming experience forever.
After an official complaint by Swedish officials about the game Star Stable Online and the publisher's shady business practices, the European Commission calls for a general overhaul of the way premium currency currently functions. Among other things, Star Stable has been criticized for selling bundles that offer a little more or less currency than you actually need. This means that to buy a 300 coin horse, you have to buy either 200 or 400 coins. Of course, the developer is profiting from the fact that you always have a small extra in your account. In addition, influencers are said to have been paid to advertise the game without mentioning that it contains premium currency.
A regulation like this would force all games that use some form of this to rethink their approach. The aim is to scrutinize “dark patterns”, in other words: tactics that force you to buy more than you really want. One target group in particular suffers the most: statistically speaking, children spent roughly €31 a month on in-game currency in 2024. Although Star Stable Entertainment has been given a month to respond to these accusations, the commission is demanding a lot more:
- 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
Furthermore, guidelines should be created which are to be enforced as minimum requirements for premium currency: In-game currency is to be made the equivalent of real money. This means that it is also subject to legal principles. In addition, the value of the currency must not be disguised by bundling it with other items or offering different currencies for sale at the same time. Especially not if there is no form of parental control.
The Industry's Reaction
The European Game Developers Federation and Video Games Europe have issued a joint statement expressing their dissatisfaction.
It's not surprising that large developer studios in particular are complaining. In a statement, they even threaten to no longer distribute their games in Europe instead of adopting these more ethically correct measures. But you can be sure that it is unlikely to happen, as Europe holds a large market share, and it is hard to imagine that developers would want to abandon it completely. After all, Apple does not produce iPhones with a USB-C port just for the European market.
What's Next?
While countries such as Belgium have already banned loot boxes and their systems, gambling simply continues. But that could change as soon as the whole of Europe joins in. And who knows? Perhaps sooner than later, we won't have to worry whether we'll ever see the Skin again that we missed out on last year.
What do you think about the progress that's being made?
Do you think the breakthrough will come soon? Or is it wishful thinking?