Italy Investigates Activision Blizzard for Pushing in-Game Purchases

Italy Investigates Activision Blizzard for Pushing in-Game Purchases

Italy Probes Activision Blizzard Over In-Game Purchases Italy has officially launched dual investigations into Microsoft-owned Activision Blizzard, targeting the company’s monetization tactics in two of its most popular mobile titles: Diablo Immortal and Call of Duty Mobile . The Italian Competition Authority—known as Autorità Garante della Concorrenza e del Mercato (AGCM)—alleges that the games employ “misleading and aggressive” design strategies to push users, especially minors, into making in-game purchases they may not fully understand or intend. Credit: Anadolu / Getty Images The probe zeroes in on how these free-to-play games use psychological nudges, time-limited rewards, and opaque virtual currency systems to encourage spending. For parents and players alike, this raises urgent questions about transparency, consent, and the ethics of monetizing digital entertainment aimed at younger audiences. What Sparked Italy’s Investigation? At the heart of the AGCM’s concern is the way Diablo I…