Updated Mar 17, 2026 by Video Games Europe
The European video game industry, which generated €26.4 billion in 2024, argues that existing EU consumer protection frameworks and self-regulatory systems like PEGI and USK are sufficient to address concerns regarding minors and in-game monetization.
Current industry safeguards show high efficacy, with 79% of parents recognizing PEGI labels, 80% familiar with USK age ratings, and 95% of in-game purchases reportedly supervised by adults.
Only 18% of children are permitted to make in-game purchases, supported by parental control tools that now allow for the management of data processing, communication limits, and content sharing.
The industry warns that reclassifying in-game currencies as 'digital representations of value' would create an impractical proliferation of contracts and strip away existing consumer protections.
Existing legislation, including the Digital Services Act and the AI Act, is already deemed sufficient to regulate dark patterns and vulnerability-targeting, making new, restrictive laws potentially redundant and costly.
Industry stakeholders advocate for the use of co-created guidance and existing self-regulatory mechanisms rather than new legislation that could jeopardize market innovation and legal certainty.
The European video game industry, which generated €26.4 billion in 2024, argues that existing EU consumer protection frameworks and self-regulatory systems like PEGI and USK are sufficient to address concerns regarding minors and in-game monetization.
Current industry safeguards show high efficacy, with 79% of parents recognizing PEGI labels, 80% familiar with USK age ratings, and 95% of in-game purchases reportedly supervised by adults.
Only 18% of children are permitted to make in-game purchases, supported by parental control tools that now allow for the management of data processing, communication limits, and content sharing.
The industry warns that reclassifying in-game currencies as 'digital representations of value' would create an impractical proliferation of contracts and strip away existing consumer protections.
Existing legislation, including the Digital Services Act and the AI Act, is already deemed sufficient to regulate dark patterns and vulnerability-targeting, making new, restrictive laws potentially redundant and costly.
Industry stakeholders advocate for the use of co-created guidance and existing self-regulatory mechanisms rather than new legislation that could jeopardize market innovation and legal certainty.