Italy Launches Investigation into Microsoft's Sales Tactics for Popular Games

Investigation Overview

MILAN, Jan 16 (Reuters) - Italy's competition watchdog on Friday announced investigations into Microsoft's Activision Blizzard unit over allegedly "misleading and aggressive" sales practices for video games "Diablo Immortal" and "Call of Duty Mobile".

Allegations Against Microsoft

The watchdog, which also oversees consumer rights, said the company was "operating in a manner that violates consumer protection legislation and, in particular, the professional diligence required in a sector highly sensitive to the risks of developing gambling addiction."

Concerns Over Consumer Rights

Microsoft's Italian press office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Impact on Gamers

The probes focus on incentives to buy extra content for the free-to-play franchises, both during and outside gaming sessions, via in-app messages and push notifications, the regulator said in a statement.

It said the use of virtual currencies could lead gamers, "including minors, into spending significant sums, even more than those necessary to progress in the game, without fully realising it."

Games use virtual currencies so gamers can buy items or related content and they can be obtained by using real money or sometimes "earned" within the game.

"Call of Duty" and "Diablo" are among the most popular video games franchises.

The regulator also criticised default parental control options on the games and information on players' contractual rights "which appears to lead them to unknowingly waive them."

It highlighted the lack of options to challenge the possible blocking of gaming accounts, leading to the loss of money invested for digital content, which it said could sometimes be substantial.

(Reporting by Sara Rossi and Alvise Armellini, editing by Jane Merriman)