ReportVideo Games Europe
Transparent and Fair Purchases of In-Game Content
1 Apr 20244 pages~10 min full read
The PEGI Code of Conduct mandates that signatories display purchase icons, provide receipts, and disclose real-world costs for virtual currency, while requiring transparent probability disclosures for paid random items like loot boxes.
See it on page 2Only 20.8% of PEGI-rated games include in-game purchase options, with just 3% of all rated games offering paid random items.
See it on page 1Parental supervision remains robust, with 76% of parents reporting their children do not make in-game purchases, a figure that has remained stable since 2020.
See it on page 4Industry safeguards now include parental tools that default child accounts to zero spending, the separation of transaction interfaces from gameplay, and established refund mechanisms for unauthorized purchases.
See it on page 3Data from 2018–2024 indicates that only 11% of players aged 11–64 have purchased in-game currency across the five largest European markets.
See it on page 1Average in-game spending among permitted purchasers in the Netherlands has declined by 21% since 2023.
See it on page 4The PEGI Enforcement Committee holds the authority to prohibit the use of in-game assets for illegal gambling or unauthorized trading.
See it on page 2The initiative seeks to ensure that European players can make informed, transparent decisions when purchasing in‑game content, while safeguarding minors from unintended spending. It builds on the PEGI Age Rating System, now operating in forty countries, and introduces a three‑part policy framework: the PEGI Code of Conduct for purchasable content, additional safeguards focused on younger players, and coordinated information campaigns supported by trusted data.
Statistical evidence shows that 20.8 % of all games receiving a PEGI rating include in‑game purchase options, with 3 % offering paid random items such as loot boxes. An annual Ipsos survey commissioned by Video Games Europe from 2018 to 2024, covering the five largest European consumer‑spend markets, reveals that parental supervision remains high—95 % of Swedish parents monitor spending—and that 76 % of parents report their children do not make in‑game purchases, a figure stable since 2020. Average spend among permitted purchasers fell 21 % in the Netherlands since 2023, and only 11 % of players aged 11‑64 have bought in‑game currency across the surveyed regions.
The PEGI Code of Conduct obliges signatories to display a dedicated icon at the point of purchase, provide receipts, and clearly state the real‑world cost of any virtual currency. For paid random items, it mandates visible notices, confirms that such purchases are optional, and requires transparent probability disclosures in line with data‑protection laws. Additional safeguards include parental tools that default to zero spending for child accounts, separation of transaction interfaces from gameplay, and refund mechanisms for unauthorized purchases. Policies also prohibit the use of in‑game assets for illegal gambling or unauthorised trading, with enforcement powers vested in the PEGI Enforcement Committee.
Information campaigns, such as the Pan‑European “Seize the Controls” effort, aim to raise awareness of these tools and safeguards in national languages, leveraging partnerships with Safer Internet Centres and other stakeholders. The industry welcomes further support from EU institutions and member states to amplify outreach and reinforce responsible spending practices across the European gaming ecosystem.
