Here is the press release directly from the AGCM (Italian Competition and Market Authority) website. Dated 16 January 2026
https://www.agcm.it/media/comunicati-stampa/2026/1/PS13020-PS13039
Here's the whole translated text:
The Italian Competition and Market Authority has launched two investigations into Activision Blizzard (Microsoft group) for the video games “Diablo Immortal” and “Call of Duty Mobile” – defined as free to play, but with the possibility of in-game purchases – for deceptive and aggressive commercial practices that violate consumers' contractual rights. According to the Authority, the company is operating in a manner contrary to consumer protection legislation and, in particular, to the professional diligence required in a sector that is highly sensitive to the risks of developing gaming addiction.
The investigations primarily concern the possible use of manipulative interface design to induce consumers to play frequently, prolong gaming sessions, and take advantage of promotional offers. Examples include repeated exhortations, during and outside of gaming sessions, not to miss out on bonus content—including through in-app messages and push notifications—and to purchase limited-time content before it becomes unavailable. This conduct, together with strategies to make the real value of the virtual coins used in the video game difficult to understand and the sale of game currency in predetermined quantities (bundles), can influence players-consumers, including minors, leading them to spend significant amounts of money, even more than is necessary to progress in the game, without being fully aware of it.
Furthermore, according to the Antitrust Authority, the parental control functions preset by the company appear aggressive, because the mechanism automatically preselects options that offer less protection for minors (the ability to make in-game purchases, unlimited playing time, and interaction with other players), in the absence of active behavior and supervision by the parent/guardian. The Authority also intends to verify the methods used to obtain consent for the processing of personal data during account registration, as consumers, including minors, are induced to select all consents, including profiling for commercial purposes, believing that they have no choice. Finally, the investigations concern the inadequacy of the information provided on the player's contractual rights, which seem to induce them to unknowingly waive them (e.g., the right to reconsider), and also the right to unilaterally block the gaming account, without providing adequate reasons and assistance and without recognizing the possibility of a hearing, with the inevitable consequence of losing the costs incurred for digital content, which are sometimes very high.
Rome, January 16, 2026
I've tried searching for articles in English, but it seems that this news has not yet been picked up by non-Italian news outlets