The Italian Competition Authority has initiated an investigation into Activision Blizzard over allegations that its mobile games, Diablo Immortal and Call of Duty Mobile, utilize misleading and aggressive marketing practices.
According to the authority, these games are designed to encourage users to increase their gaming activity, extend their playtime, and engage with in-game offers through potentially deceptive user interface designs. The watchdog noted that players often receive repeated prompts, both during gameplay and via external notifications, urging them not to miss out on rewards or limited-time items.
Furthermore, the authority expressed concerns regarding the transparency of the virtual currency system within these games. They claim that players, including minors, may feel pressured to spend excessive amounts of money without fully understanding the costs involved.
The investigation also highlights that the default parental controls in both titles offer lower protection levels, permitting in-game purchases and extensive playtime for younger players. Additionally, there are worries about how these games handle personal data collection, suggesting that users, particularly minors, are misled into consenting to various data profiling practices.
Activision Blizzard has been contacted for comment. It is important to note that the company is now part of Microsoft, which acquired it for a staggering $75.4 billion.
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