Updated Mar 17, 2026 by Video Games Europe
Video Games Europe advocates that replacing a defective console with a refurbished unit should be legally recognized as equivalent to a repair, aligning with existing practices by Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo.
The industry currently maintains a repair turnaround time of under 14 working days through authorized centers, which they argue is more efficient than mandatory loaner programs.
The organization opposes extending the current two-year legal guarantee, citing data that such an extension would yield only 0.3% in CO2 savings and negligible waste reduction over 15 years while increasing firm costs.
Video Games Europe supports a market-based pricing model for repairs, warning that government price controls would likely marginalize independent repairers and distort competition.
The gaming sector in Europe represents a significant economic force, generating €23.3 billion in 2020 and employing approximately 90,000 people to serve 250 million players.
The industry advises against expanding the Directive to include batteries or direct producer liability, recommending these issues remain under the existing Batteries Regulation to prevent legal uncertainty.
Video Games Europe advocates that replacing a defective console with a refurbished unit should be legally recognized as equivalent to a repair, aligning with existing practices by Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo.
The industry currently maintains a repair turnaround time of under 14 working days through authorized centers, which they argue is more efficient than mandatory loaner programs.
The organization opposes extending the current two-year legal guarantee, citing data that such an extension would yield only 0.3% in CO2 savings and negligible waste reduction over 15 years while increasing firm costs.
Video Games Europe supports a market-based pricing model for repairs, warning that government price controls would likely marginalize independent repairers and distort competition.
The gaming sector in Europe represents a significant economic force, generating €23.3 billion in 2020 and employing approximately 90,000 people to serve 250 million players.
The industry advises against expanding the Directive to include batteries or direct producer liability, recommending these issues remain under the existing Batteries Regulation to prevent legal uncertainty.