EU investigates Ubisoft, Mojang and Activision over microtransactions. * October 12, 2026 * by Noize * 0 Comments * 37 Views The European Union is stepping up its efforts to protect gamers from potentially unfair microtransactions. Major gaming companies, including Ubisoft, Mojang, and Activision Blizzard, are facing scrutiny over their use of virtual currencies and in-game purchases. Discover more Computer Games Try Shooter Games European consumer authorities are particularly concerned about systems that make it difficult to understand the real cost of digital items. Some games also require players to purchase more virtual currency than they actually need. The investigations could lead to significant changes in how gaming companies sell digital content throughout Europe. Major gaming companies face European scrutiny. European consumer protection authorities are examining the monetisation practices of several major publishers and developers. The companies involved include: * Ubisoft * Mojang * Crytek * InnoGames * King * Plarium Europe * PLR Worldwide Sales * Riot Games * Supercell Activision Blizzard is also facing separate scrutiny over monetisation practices in games such as Diablo Immortal and Call of Duty Mobile. Discover more Shooter Video Games Read Game Reviews Play Tabletop RPGs The wider investigation covers several popular titles, including Minecraft, Valorant, Clash of Clans, Candy Crush Saga, For Honor, and Hunt: Showdown 1896. Authorities want to determine whether certain purchasing systems comply with European consumer protection legislation. Importantly, an investigation does not automatically mean that a company has broken the law. Virtual currency is at the centre of the investigation. One of the biggest concerns involves premium currencies. Many games require players to purchase fictional money before they can buy cosmetics, characters, or other digital items. For example, imagine wanting an item that costs 750 coins. Unfortunately, the game only sells packages containing 500 or 1,000 coins. Players must purchase more currency than they need, leaving a remaining balance in their accounts. That balance can encourage another purchase, especially when the next item requires additional currency. European regulators are questioning whether these systems unfairly influence consumer spending. Discover more Try New Games Video Games Another concern involves pricing transparency. An item costing 1,500 gems might appear inexpensive until players calculate its actual value in euros. Children and younger gamers need better protection. The European authorities are also examining how microtransactions affect younger audiences. Games frequently feature colourful storefronts, limited-time promotions, and exclusive cosmetics. These features can encourage impulsive purchases. The concerns become particularly important when children cannot easily understand the financial consequences. Regulators want gaming companies to provide clearer pricing information and respect existing consumer rights. The investigations also raise questions about parental controls, purchasing restrictions, and potentially manipulative commercial practices. Could the EU force changes to microtransactions? The European Union is not attempting to ban every form of microtransaction. Instead, authorities want companies to make purchasing systems fairer and more transparent. One possible improvement would allow players to purchase the exact amount of virtual currency required for an item. Another would involve displaying real-world prices alongside premium currency values. Such changes could help consumers make informed decisions without navigating confusing currency conversions. However, these measures should not be confused with confirmed legal requirements resulting from the investigations. Their eventual outcome remains uncertain. GamingHQ: stop making players buy currency they don't need. Microtransactions are not automatically a problem. Developers need income to maintain servers, develop updates, and support their games. However, there is a difference between selling optional content and deliberately making purchases unnecessarily complicated. If an item costs €7, players should be able to spend €7. They should not need to purchase €10 worth of fictional currency simply because the publisher refuses to offer a suitable package. The same applies to pricing transparency. Nobody should need a calculator to understand how much a cosmetic item costs. GamingHQ supports stronger consumer protection when it targets practices that make gaming unnecessarily expensive or confusing. Developers deserve to earn money from their work, but consumers deserve fair treatment. Those two principles can exist together. What happens next? The companies involved will have opportunities to respond to the concerns raised by European consumer authorities. Depending on their responses, regulators could demand changes or pursue additional enforcement measures. Any potential penalties would depend on the applicable legislation and the findings of the relevant authorities. For now, gamers should not expect microtransactions to disappear overnight. Nevertheless, the investigations send an important message to the industry. Virtual currencies should not become a convenient way to disguise prices, pressure consumers, or encourage unnecessary spending. If European regulators succeed in making these systems more transparent, gamers across the continent could benefit.

Call of Duty Mobile Season 6 stealing Hearts launches July 1 featuring Persona 5 Royal collaboration. The global mobile gaming landscape is set for a significant shift as Activision Blizzard announces the launch of Call of Duty: Mobile Season 6, titled "Stealing Hearts," scheduled for release on July 1 at 9:00 PM BRT. This update marks a landmark crossover event with the critically acclaimed JRPG Persona 5 Royal, developed by Atlus and published by Sega. The collaboration integrates the stylized, heist-themed universe of the Phantom Thieves into the fast-paced environment of the mobile shooter, introducing a suite of thematic game modes, exclusive cosmetic rewards, and substantial gameplay adjustments. This initiative follows a long-standing tradition of high-profile collaborations for the title, aiming to bridge the gap between traditional military shooter fans and the dedicated audience of the Japanese role-playing game genre. The Phantom Thieves integration and thematic content. The centerpiece of Season 6 is the deep integration of Persona 5 Royal assets and motifs. The collaboration is headlined by the "Plunder: Treasure Hunt" mode, a specialized variant of the popular Plunder format. In this iteration, players will navigate the battlefield while encountering "cognitive Shadows," enemies modeled after the supernatural adversaries found in the Persona series' Metaverse. Certain sectors of the map will be designated as "dominated areas," where players must contend with waves of non-player character (NPC) Shadows to secure high-value loot and thematic rewards. To further the immersion, Activision has developed a dedicated event space within the game's interface. This hub will serve as the primary conduit for players to engage with the Phantom Thieves' narrative within the Call of Duty framework. It will feature unique challenges that unlock Operators and weapon blueprints inspired by the game's protagonists, such as Joker, Ann Takamaki, and Ryuji Sakamoto. Industry analysts suggest that this aesthetic pivot is a strategic move to capitalize on the "stylish" visual identity of Persona 5, which remains one of the most recognizable art styles in contemporary gaming. New multiplayer modes and Combat mechanics. Beyond the crossover content, Season 6 introduces "Throwable Frenzy," a new multiplayer mode designed to test player precision and agility. This 5v5 mode restricts players primarily to the use of the Combat Axe, supplemented by specific power-ups and environmental boosts. The mode emphasizes movement mechanics and lead-time calculation, offering a departure from the standard ballistic-focused gameplay of the Search and Destroy or Team Deathmatch modes. The introduction of Throwable Frenzy highlights a growing trend in mobile gaming to offer "arcade-style" experiences that cater to shorter play sessions while maintaining a high skill ceiling. By removing primary firearms from the equation, developers are forcing veteran players to master the game's physics engine, potentially leveling the playing field for newer participants who may lack high-tier weapon attachments but possess superior reflexes. Expanding the arsenal: the FSS Hurricane and VTOL Jet. The seasonal update also sees the arrival of the FSS Hurricane, a submachine gun (SMG) that originally debuted in the modern console iterations of the franchise. Known for its unique top-loading magazine - based on the real-world AR-57 - the FSS Hurricane offers a high ammunition capacity for its class, making it a formidable choice for aggressive players who prioritize sustained fire over frequent reloading. Early statistical data suggests the weapon will occupy a niche between the high-mobility SMGs and the more stable Assault Rifles, providing a versatile option for mid-range engagements. Complementing the new weaponry is the return of the VTOL Jet as a featured Scorestreak. A staple of the Call of Duty: Black Ops series, the VTOL Jet allows players to provide devastating aerial fire support. Requiring a significant score to activate, the VTOL serves as a "match-ender," capable of suppressing enemy movement across large portions of the map. Its inclusion in Season 6 is expected to shift the meta of objective-based modes like Hardpoint and Domination, where area denial is critical to victory. Battle Pass structure and progression systems. The "Stealing Hearts" Battle Pass follows the established two-tier system, offering both free and premium reward tracks. The free tier provides all players with the base version of the FSS Hurricane and the VTOL Jet Scorestreak upon reaching the required levels. Meanwhile, the Premium Pass includes a variety of Persona 5 Royal-themed Operator skins, specialized weapon blueprints with custom iron sights, and various cosmetic items such as calling cards and charms. Seasonal challenges will also be updated to reflect the Persona theme. These challenges typically offer experience points (XP) and "Battle Pass XP," facilitating faster progression through the tiers. Furthermore, the Ranked Series will reset, introducing new rewards for players who climb the competitive ladder in both Multiplayer and Battle Royale modes. This reset is a crucial component of the game's lifecycle, as it provides a renewed incentive for the hardcore player base to engage with the title's competitive systems. Chronology and strategic context of crossovers. Call of Duty: Mobile has a documented history of leveraging pop-culture collaborations to maintain its position as a market leader. Over the past three years, the title has featured crossovers with franchises such as Attack on Titan, Die Hard, Rambo, and even musical icons like Snoop Dogg. The partnership with Persona 5 Royal represents a more niche, yet highly targeted, approach. The timeline of these collaborations often aligns with major industry events or the release of new titles within the partner's franchise. While Persona 5 Royal is not a new release, its enduring popularity and the recent expansion of the Persona brand to more platforms have made it a prime candidate for such a partnership. For Activision, these events serve to increase "Daily Active Users" (DAU) and drive microtransaction revenue through "Lucky Draws" and "Crates," which are expected to feature the most coveted Persona-themed items. Market analysis and regional impact. The decision to announce the update with a focus on the BRT (Brasília Time) zone underscores the importance of the Brazilian and Latin American markets to the mobile gaming industry. Brazil consistently ranks among the top five countries globally for Call of Duty: Mobile downloads and active engagement. The mobile-first nature of the Brazilian gaming demographic makes seasonal updates like "Stealing Hearts" a major event in the local tech calendar. From a broader economic perspective, the collaboration highlights the synergy between Western shooters and Eastern RPGs. By integrating JRPG elements, Activision is tapping into a "gacha-adjacent" audience - players who are comfortable with and often enjoy the collection of rare, stylized characters and weapons. This crossover of player demographics is essential for the longevity of a live-service game that is approaching its fifth year of operation. Technical requirements and update deployment. The Season 6 update will be deployed via a mandatory patch available on both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. Players are advised to ensure they have sufficient storage space, as thematic updates of this scale often require significant data downloads for new assets, textures, and audio files. Activision has optimized the game to run on a wide range of hardware, but the "High" and "Very High" graphical settings will be necessary to fully appreciate the stylized cel-shaded aesthetic brought over from the Persona universe. Broader implications for the mobile gaming industry. The "Stealing Hearts" update is more than just a seasonal refresh; it is a testament to the evolving nature of mobile gaming as a platform for massive cultural crossovers. As mobile hardware becomes increasingly capable of handling complex assets and sophisticated gameplay modes, the distinction between "mobile" and "console" experiences continues to blur. By successfully integrating a narrative-heavy, stylized RPG like Persona 5 Royal into a competitive shooter, Activision is proving that brand identity can be fluid. This success may pave the way for even more experimental collaborations in the future, potentially involving other media formats such as cinema or television, as the industry moves toward a more "metaverse-centric" model of digital entertainment. As July 1st approaches, the community remains focused on the tactical implications of the FSS Hurricane and the visual spectacle of the Phantom Thieves. Whether Season 6 will maintain the high engagement levels of its predecessors remains to be seen, but the initial reception of the "Stealing Hearts" announcement suggests that the fusion of military action and supernatural heist drama has struck a chord with the global audience.

Ex-Activision CEO Bobby Kotick joins Skydance board of directors following wb-paramount merger. From one of the biggest game publishers to one of the biggest movie studios. Former Activision CEO Bobby Kotick, who stepped down from running the Call of Duty publisher after Microsoft completed its $69 billion acquisition of Activision-Blizzard-King, is joining David Ellison's board of directors at the newly christened Skydance following Paramount's now-completed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. The Hollywood Reporter confirmed Kotick's spot on the new board, which was disclosed in a new SEC filing, along with philanthropist Laurene Powell Jobs. Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair also joins as a board advisor. "I am delighted to welcome Laurene and Bobby to our Board and honored to have Tony join us as an Advisor," Ellison said. "Bobby led a global entertainment company through three decades of sustained growth, and he brings real perspective on building enduring franchises and connecting with fans. His record of pairing bold strategic moves with disciplined capital allocation is exactly the experience we need as we bring our businesses together. Tony has led at the highest levels of government, respected for his intellect, strategic vision and ability to bring people together around bold, forward-looking ideas. His global perspective and insight will be invaluable as we turn ambition into results." The 13-member board includes a number of other entertainment-industry figures, such as Barbara Byrne, Andy Campion, Gerry Cardinale, Safra A. Catz, Andy Gordon, Justin G. Hamill, Ynon Kreiz, Sherry Lansing, Paul Marinelli, and John L. Thornton. While Activision grew to become one of the game industry's largest publishers during Kotick's 32-year tenure, it wasn't without controversy. He believes he was right to sell the company to Microsoft in the end. Get IGN's Biggest Stories FIRST. Set Us as Your Source. Add Source