Italy launches EU-backed probe into Microsoft-owned gaming companies

Oct 8 (Reuters) - Italy's antitrust ‌authority said ​on ​Thursday it had launched a probe into several Microsoft-owned video-game makers over their use of virtual currencies.

• Italy's ‌probe is aimed at Activision Blizzard, among other companies ⁠of the Microsoft group, the antitrust authority said in a statement, without naming ‌the others

• Microsoft was ‌not immediately available for comment

• The move is part of a wider European Union-coordinated initiative by the EU's Consumer Protection Cooperation (CPC) ​Network. The network launched actions last month against nine video-game companies, including Riot Games, Ubisoft and Supercell, and had ⁠earlier opened a separate action against Microsoft-owned Activision Blizzard

• The aim of the coordinated action ​is to promote transparency and fairness in the gaming sector, particularly protecting the rights of minors

• The ​probes focus on the transparency and ‌fairness of in-game virtual currencies used to purchase cosmetic upgrades, weapon enhancements and other digital items, the ⁠Italian regulator said

• Purchases are often priced in virtual currencies rather than euros and may involve multiple layers of conversion, making it harder ⁠for consumers to understand how much they are spending, the authority said

• The ​Italian Competition Authority will act as lead authority, working together with peers in Norway and Denmark

• The watchdogs will seek to determine whether the ‌companies may have committed a "widespread infringement" of EU consumer protection rules affecting consumers in at least three ‌EU member states

• The coordinated action complements investigations the Italian regulator ⁠opened nationally in December ‌into Microsoft group companies ​over the popular games "Diablo Immortal" and "Call of Duty Mobile".

(Reporting by Anna Uras; Editing by Giulia Segreti and ‌Xevi Fontdegloria)

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