Two new consumer protection laws are set to reshape the in-game shop of Diablo 4, potentially for the better or worse. According to buffed.de, these regulations have been introduced by the Consumer Protection Cooperation Network (CPC), an EU body responsible for enforcing consumer protection laws across member states. The new directive specifically targets “In-game Virtual Currencies,” aiming to bring greater transparency and fairness to digital transactions in video games.
Increased Transparency for In-Game Currency Pricing
One of the key changes mandates that Blizzard must clearly display the real-money cost of Diablo 4‘s in-game currency, Platinum. Players will need to see not only how much Platinum costs in euros but also the exact price of in-game items in real-world currency. While Blizzard already provides a fairly transparent conversion rate (1 Platinum = €0.01), they often bundle higher-value packages with small bonuses. Under the new law, all discounts and bonuses must be explicitly displayed without misleading promotional pricing. Additionally, any time-limited offers designed to create a “fear of missing out” (FOMO) must be clearly marked with their actual euro price.
Fairer Bundle Pricing for In-Game Purchases
Another major change concerns in-game currency bundles. Currently, Diablo 4‘s shop follows a common practice where players must purchase currency in pre-set amounts, often leading to excess in-game currency after a transaction. For example, a Transmog set costing 2,600 Platinum cannot be bought with two €9.99 Platinum bundles, forcing players to opt for the €25 bundle, leaving them with leftover currency. The new law seeks to eliminate such forced overspending by ensuring that players can purchase exactly the amount of in-game currency required for a specific item.
These changes, while intended to enhance consumer protection, could significantly alter Diablo 4‘s monetization model. Whether this leads to a more player-friendly shop or affects Blizzard’s pricing strategies negatively remains to be seen.
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