Video Games Europe's Response to the European Commission’s Call for Evidence on the Digital Fitness Check

Video Games Europe, the trade body representing the European video game industry, has submitted its response to the European Commission's Call for Evidence on the Digital Fitness Check. The Fitness Check is the Commission's review of how the EU's digital rulebook functions in practice. The submission argues that the review should be broad and evidence-driven, and that it should address the cumulative regulatory burden on digital businesses, including game publishers and developers operating across the EU.

The response sets out five core recommendations. First, the Fitness Check should assess the full compliance burden on digital businesses rather than examining individual laws in isolation. It specifically names the EU consumer law acquis and the AI Act, while indicating that other instruments should also be included. Second, the exercise should account for the foreseeable impact of new legislation planned under the current Commission mandate across all relevant areas, so that upcoming proposals are considered alongside existing obligations.

Third, the industry calls for close scrutiny of consistency between existing laws, implying concern about overlap, duplication, or conflicting requirements across the digital acquis. Fourth, it urges a greater focus on building a strong evidence base for every regulatory restriction, suggesting that rules should be justified by demonstrable need and impact. Fifth, it proposes that national regulators be given statutory duties to consult and to cooperate, aiming for more coherent and predictable enforcement across Member States.

The publication is a short summary of a longer position paper available as a PDF, and it contains no quantitative data, survey findings, or detailed methodology. Its scope is EU-wide, and the submission appears to date from early 2026. The overall thesis is that regulatory simplification, coherence, and evidence-based policymaking are needed to keep the European digital and games sector competitive while maintaining consumer protection.