Rome, January 16, 2026 — The Italian authority has opened two investigations into Activision Blizzard, part of Microsoft, over alleged unfair commercial practices linked to the mobile games Diablo Immortal and Call of Duty Mobile, citing concerns that players may be pressured into making in-game purchases without fully informed consent, including minors.
The authority said the titles are marketed as free-to-play but include the possibility of in-game purchases, and it is examining whether the company engaged in misleading or aggressive practices and violated consumer contractual rights. It added that the conduct under review may fall short of the professional diligence expected in a sector considered particularly sensitive due to risks of gaming addiction.
Manipulative Design and Spending Pressure
The investigations focus first on the alleged use of manipulative interface design intended to encourage consumers to play more frequently, extend gaming sessions, and accept promoted offers.
The authority cited repeated prompts during and outside gameplay sessions, urging users not to miss rewards, including through in-app messages and push notifications, as well as prompts to purchase limited-time content before it becomes unavailable.
It also raised concerns about strategies that may make it difficult for consumers to understand the real value of virtual currency used in the games, alongside the sale of in-game currency in predetermined bundles. The authority said these practices could influence players, including minors, to spend significant sums, sometimes more than necessary to progress in the game, without being fully aware of the amount involved.
Parental Controls and Data Consents
The authority also flagged concerns about pre-set parental control features, which it said may be aggressive because they automatically select options that provide less protection for minors — including enabling in-game purchases, allowing unlimited play time, and permitting interaction with other players — unless a parent or guardian actively intervenes and supervises.
In addition, it said it intends to verify how consent to personal data processing is obtained during account registration, alleging that consumers, including minors, may be induced to select all consent options, including profiling for commercial purposes, under the impression that the selection is mandatory.
Contract Rights and Account Blocking
The authority is further examining whether information provided to users regarding contractual rights is inadequate and could lead players to unknowingly waive those rights, including the right of withdrawal.
It also raised concerns about the ability to block a gaming account unilaterally without providing adequate reasons or assistance and without allowing for an adversarial process, which could result in players losing the costs incurred for digital content, sometimes in significant amounts.
Source: https://www.agcm.it/media/comunicati-stampa/2026/1/PS13020-PS13039
