The games industry has come out against Europe’s new rules. Video Games Europe (VGE) and the European Games Developer Federation (EGDF) said in a joint statement that the Digital Fairness Act proposal is unworkable, unjustified and disproportionate, and that it would be “game over” for the European games industry, mobilegamer.biz reported on November 11, 2026.
What the proposal includes
- Restrictions on loot boxes, virtual currencies, pay-to-win and retention mechanics
- Possible bans on selling loot boxes and pay-to-win mechanics to minors across Europe
- For under-18s, unless a parent approves: no paid virtual currencies, no pay-to-progress and no features that encourage compulsive or excessive play
We explained the details of the leaked draft in our earlier article.
The industry’s arguments
VGE and EGDF say the rules would weaken Europe’s competitiveness and leave players with fewer games and less choice. They argue the industry already protects players through PEGI age ratings, parental controls and spending tools, and that the proposal would not make players any safer. They have asked for an urgent reassessment based on proportionality, growth and consumer empowerment.
What happens now
The text is a proposal, not a law yet. The European Parliament and the Council of the EU will now discuss it, and no timeline has been set. To understand the systems involved, see our guides to loot boxes and free-to-play.
This article was written with AI assistance from the sources linked above.
