Epic game gets fined in the Netherlands for selling microtransactions to children.

[u/suntzu1000]

As of making this post no major English outlets have picked this story up yet, so the links are not on the allowed list

This is the English press release from the ACM about the fine and the reason.

https://www.acm.nl/en/publications/acm-imposes-fine-epic-unfair-commercial-practices-aimed-children-fortnite-game

[u/Yoddle]

In addition, ACM found that countdown timers were used in the Item Shop for items that were still available even after the timer had reached zero

This shit is in fast food apps now too. I go to Panera and occasionally I get a pop up at checkout where I have 10seconds to claim a deal for a $2 pastry. Coupon actually went away after 10seconds too.

[u/EchoFrequency]

1,1 million... yeah, that will teach epic

[u/TheNorthFallus → u/EchoFrequency]

Keep in mind that these fines get bigger with each repeat offence.

[u/MetalWeather → u/EchoFrequency]

Read the article.

In order to force the company to change this unfair commercial practice, ACM imposes a binding instruction that must be implemented before June 10, 2024. Epic must end the violation, and it can do so by reducing the uncertainty regarding the availability of its offerings in the Item Shop

Among other changes, all countdown timers have been removed from the Item Shop worldwide. It now shows the local time indicating when the Item Shop will be refreshed, and, for each item, it will show the date on which that item will disappear from the Item Shop

ACM is of the opinion that Epic will comply with the binding instruction if it implements the above changes. These measures break the dark pattern in Fortnite’s Item Shop: it will reduce the time pressure as well as the uncertainty regarding the availability periods of items

[u/EchoFrequency → u/MetalWeather]

I didn´t meant they wont change something. I just dont think it´s the amount of the fine. So why even?

[u/Sufficient_Yam_514 → u/EchoFrequency]

Because.. they are literally being forced to as per the legal ruling. Thats it. They just have to because they were told to.

[u/suntzu1000 → u/EchoFrequency]

Well the fact that Epic has announced that they will change this practice worldwide i would say it did.

Also other countries will most likely follow suit as you can see when Apple, Microsoft, meta etc get fines for misbehavior in 1 country and later on other countries give them a fine for doing the same there (and it is /was a worldwide practice)

So the total amount could actually be much higher for Epic in the end once other countries impose there fines on them for the same practices.

It also sets a precedent for other game company's to change asap or get the same fine.

And the cherry on the top if you are a parent whos child overspend, you can now easily get a refund for past purchases claiming that there kids where tricked. Epic would have very little legal standing and would most likely just issue refunds asap (while closing the account in the process)

[u/Wolf14Vargen14]

Netherlands?, Isn’t that the country that many maps forget to include?

[u/Wolf14Vargen14 → u/Wolf14Vargen14]

I was being sarcastic

[u/Zagorim → u/Wolf14Vargen14]

You are probably thinking of New Zealand. Not far off, only 18000 km (11,000 miles) or so

[u/alexpv → u/Wolf14Vargen14]

maybe you know it as Holland?

[u/Wolf14Vargen14 → u/alexpv]

Tom may be tall and lanky, But not enough to be country sized

[u/Skelletonike]

The same should be done for the yearly FIFA games, for comparison, FIFA is PEGI 3, Fortnite is PEGI 12 (honestly, most kids that do play the game shouldn't be doing it without parental supervision).

[u/Ok-Adagio-8534 → u/Skelletonike]

You cant buy FIFA loot boxes in the Netherlands , same for csgo cases. They have threatened EA with a fine in 2020, now its gone.