Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on January 16, 2026
2 min readLast updated: January 19, 2026
Italy investigates Microsoft's sales tactics for 'Diablo' and 'Call of Duty', citing concerns over consumer protection and virtual currency use.
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".
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."
Microsoft's Italian press office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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)
Consumer protection refers to laws and regulations designed to ensure the rights of consumers, promoting fair trade, competition, and accurate information in the marketplace.
Sales practices refer to the methods and strategies used by businesses to sell their products or services, including advertising, pricing, and customer engagement.
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