European gaming firms say new EU consumer rules will ‘cripple’ the industry

Major gaming companies have criticized new EU consumer regulations, claiming they threaten the competitiveness of Europe's video game industry. The European Commission introduced the Digital Fairness Act, which aims to protect consumers, particularly minors, by banning pay-to-win mechanics and imposing restrictions on loot boxes. Additionally, the regulations require that in-app currencies be disabled by default for users under 18. These rules represent the first specific limits on the gaming sector in the EU.