Today, the European Commission is hosting a workshop on the Consumer Protection Cooperation (CPC) Network’s Key Principles on In-Game Virtual Currencies, which were adopted in March 2025.
The Key Principles represent the position of the CPC Network of national authorities and were prepared under the lead of the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) and the Norwegian Consumer Authority. They outline the minimum requirements applicable to virtual currencies under Union consumer law and illustrate best practices for their purchase and their use, such as:
- clear and transparent pricing and pre-contractual information;
- avoiding practices hiding the costs of in-game digital content and services, as well as practices obliging consumers to purchase virtual currency;
- respect of consumers’ right of withdrawal;
- respecting consumer vulnerabilities, in particular when it comes to children.
The aim of today’s workshop is to exchange views with the relevant stakeholders on current in-game practices and on how to align such practices with the CPC Key Principles.
CPC authorities, video game companies and federations, consumer organisations, European Consumer Centres, academics, and other experts are participating. Based on outcome of the discussions the CPC Network will decide on any subsequent step and follow-up measures in this area.
