Italy probes Microsoft gaming firms over virtual currencies

Italy's competition authority is leading an investigation with regulators in Norway and Denmark into Microsoft-owned game companies, including Activision Blizzard, over how virtual currencies bought with real money and converted into digital items are presented. Authorities are examining whether bundles and multiple conversion steps make prices hard to understand and may breach EU consumer-protection rules, particularly for minors. The action is coordinated under the EU Consumer Protection Cooperation framework. Italy began national probes of Diablo Immortal and Call of Duty Mobile in December 2025, announced in January 2026. Microsoft was not immediately available for comment. Outlets do not dispute the probe's existence or basic scope; they differ on emphasis. Euronews foregrounds child spending and a wider CPC action against nine companies, citing possible fines of up to 4% of annual turnover and EU consumer protection commissioner Michael McGrath's statement that "Roughly half of Europeans play video games… With that reach comes responsibility. The industry must ensure that its games do not expose players — especially children — to harmful or unfair practices." Independent Journal Review leads on Microsoft firms and virtual-currency transparency. The CPC Network said its industry dialogue last year did not bring satisfactory results. The inquiry has not established a legal violation.