Italy vs. In-Game Purchases: What Gamers and Parents Should Know Locally

Worried about surprise charges from mobile games? Italy’s probe into Activision Blizzard shows why parents should act now

Hook: If you’ve ever found an unexpected charge on your card after a child played a “free” mobile game, you’re not alone. In January 2026 Italy’s competition authority opened investigations into Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard — targeting Diablo Immortal and Call of Duty Mobile — over allegedly misleading and aggressive in-app sales practices. That probe is more than international news: it’s a wake-up call for parents, renters and homeowners in your city to tighten parental controls, understand refund options, and use local consumer protection resources.

Top-line: What Italy’s AGCM is examining and why it matters locally

Italy’s Autorità Garante della Concorrenza e del Mercato (AGCM) said in early 2026 it has launched two investigations into Activision Blizzard for tactics that may push users — often children — to spend significant sums on virtual goods and currency. The AGCM highlighted several practices:

• Use of game design elements that encourage extended play and repeated spending.
• Marketing games as “free-to-play” while incorporating expensive microtransactions and bundles.
• Obscuring the real value of in-game currency, making it hard for users to understand how much they are spending.

Why this matters for local families: many of the same games are available worldwide through Apple’s App Store and Google Play. If design features prompt impulsive purchases, parents and caregivers in your neighborhood may see unexpected card charges, dispute requests at banks, and holes in family budgets. The AGCM probe signals growing regulatory attention — and provides a roadmap for local action.

Quick facts (2026 context)

• Games named: Diablo Immortal and Call of Duty Mobile.
• Authority: AGCM (Italian Competition Authority) — press release January 2026.
• Focus: dark patterns, loot-box-style mechanics, bundled currency pricing, and marketing to minors.
• Local impact: increased consumer complaints, bank disputes, calls to municipal consumer offices and police cyber units.

How these practices actually work — and why children are vulnerable

Game developers monetize “free-to-download” titles through in-app purchases: cosmetics, time-savers, loot boxes, and virtual currency. In practice, several design and marketing techniques make spending more likely:

• Scarcity messaging: “Limited-time offer” and countdown timers create urgency.
• Progress gates: Slow progression nudges players to buy boosts to continue.
• Bundled pricing: Currency bundles mask per-unit cost and encourage larger purchases.
• Reward loops: Daily login rewards and randomized loot taps into gambling-like reinforcement.

Children and teenagers are especially susceptible because their impulse control and understanding of money are still developing. A single promoted bundle or cosmetic pack can lead to repeated microtransactions that add up quickly.

“These practices … may influence players as consumers — including minors — leading them to spend significant amounts, sometimes exceeding what is necessary to progress in the game and without being fully aware of the expenditure involved.” — AGCM, January 2026

Practical, immediate steps parents should take (actionable checklist)

Start today. The most effective defenses are simple tech settings and household rules.

1. Disable in-app purchases at the store level

   - Apple: Use Ask to Buy (Family Sharing) and require Apple ID password for every purchase. Remove saved payment methods or use gift cards for controlled balances.

   - Google Play: Turn on Require authentication for purchases. Remove payment cards from the child’s account and prefer Play Gift Cards.

2. Set spending caps and approval rules

   Use Family Link (Android) or Screen Time + Family Sharing (iOS) to set daily limits and require purchase approval. Consider using preloaded prepaid cards or controlled family wallets rather than a linked bank card.

3. Remove saved payment methods from the device

   Saved cards make one-click purchases easy. If removing cards is impractical, enable two-factor authentication and require passwords for each purchase.

4. Use PINs/passwords for purchases and disable guest checkouts

   Never share your shopping account password. Require a payment PIN for any purchase on the device.

5. Educate children about real-world costs

   Show them bank statements and teach that virtual currency costs real money. Use small controlled allowances so they practice managing funds.

6. Audit app permissions and purchase history monthly

   Check purchase receipts, app subscriptions, and in-game receipts. Immediately change passwords if unexpected charges appear.

7. Keep evidence for disputes

   Save screenshots of the game’s store pages, receipts, and transaction IDs. That documentation is useful when contacting the app store, your bank, or consumer protection bodies.

How to contest unauthorized or unexpected charges — step-by-step

If you’ve already seen charges you didn’t expect, act fast. Here’s an ordered sequence that tends to be effective:

1. Freeze or remove the payment method

   Log in to your bank or card issuer and temporarily block transactions. This stops further purchases immediately.

2. Request a refund through the app store

   Apple and Google publish refund request pages. Explain that purchases were made without parental consent or by a child — include transaction IDs and screenshots.

3. File a dispute with your bank (chargeback)

   If the store refuses, open a chargeback with your card provider. Provide copies of refund requests and evidence that the charges were unauthorized.

4. Contact local consumer protection agencies

   In Italy, you can contact local “Sportello per il Consumatore”, the national AGCM for competition issues, or consumer associations like Altroconsumo and Codacons. If you live elsewhere, your municipal consumer office or national authority will have equivalent channels.

5. Report to cybercrime authorities if fraud is suspected

   In Italy, Polizia Postale handles online fraud and can advise on criminal complaints. Most cities have a cybercrime reporting route.

Local resources — who to contact in your city (Italy-focused options and universal equivalents)

If you live in Italy, these are practical places to start. If you’re outside Italy, use their equivalents (local municipal consumer office, national competition authority, police cyber unit).

• AGCM (Autorità Garante della Concorrenza e del Mercato) — Files investigations into unfair commercial practices; you can follow the Activision investigation and learn how systemic complaints are handled. (Official updates: AGCM Jan 2026 press release.)
• Sportello per il Consumatore / Ufficio Tutela dei Consumatori — Most municipal governments (Comune) host a consumer helpdesk that guides refunds, mediation and small-claims processes.
• Consumer associations — Organizations such as Altroconsumo, Codacons and Adiconsum provide legal advice, complaint templates and collective actions.
• Polizia Postale — Italy’s cyber police handle online fraud and can accept complaints involving unauthorized online payments.
• European Consumer Centre (ECC-Net) — For cross-border disputes inside the EU. Useful if purchases route through another country.

What regulators and platforms changed in 2025–2026 — and what to expect next

Regulators worldwide increased scrutiny of in-app purchases and dark patterns through late 2025 and into 2026. Several trends matter for parents now:

• Greater enforcement: Competition authorities and consumer agencies are treating manipulative monetization (especially where minors are targeted) as a priority.
• Platform policy updates: App stores have been pressured to improve transparency around virtual currency pricing and purchase flows; expect clearer disclosures and easier refund paths in 2026.
• EU and national action: European regulators are harmonizing rules on digital services and consumer protection, making cross-border enforcement easier for families.

Prediction: by late 2026 we’ll see more standardized labels for game monetization (e.g., a clear “contains in-app purchases and randomized items” icon), wider availability of purchase-limiting parental settings, and faster in-store refunds when minors are involved.

How to teach kids healthy gaming and spending habits

Technology fixes help — but habits matter most. Use these practical lessons to reduce impulse purchases and teach responsibility.

• Run a short family finance lesson: explain what virtual currency buys and show the math behind bundles.
• Agree on playtime and spending rules, and put them in writing.
• Use real allowances for in-game spending so children experience budget limits.
• Play together occasionally — parents who understand game mechanics can better explain why a purchase might be a poor value.
• Encourage alternative rewards (extra screen time earned through chores rather than microtransactions).

Sample complaint template — what to include when you contact a consumer office or app store

Keep it short and factual. Include:

• Your name, contact info, and local address.
• Date(s) and amount(s) of the disputed transaction(s).
• Transaction IDs, app store order numbers and receipts.
• Evidence the purchaser was a minor or that you did not authorize the purchase (e.g., child used your unlocked device).
• Copies of refund attempts and replies from the game developer or app store.
• A clear ask: refund the amount, remove charges, or request mediation through the consumer office.

Case scenario: a local family’s step-by-step recovery (hypothetical but realistic)

Imagine a child spends €180 on in-game currency in a weekend. The parent notices a bank notification and takes these steps:

1. Immediately blocks the card via the bank app and changes account passwords.
2. Requests a refund from the app store with screenshots and the note that purchases were made by a minor.
3. Contacts the bank for a chargeback and provides the app store correspondence.
4. Contacts the local Sportello per il Consumatore for mediation advice and files a complaint with a consumer association.
5. Implements stricter parental controls and moves to prepaid app-store gift cards for future purchases.

Outcome: many banks and app stores will refund at least part of the charge when evidence shows a minor or unauthorized transaction, especially if you move quickly and document everything.

Closing — what to do this week

Take three concrete actions this week to protect your household:

1. Review and update the payment settings on any device your child uses. Remove saved cards and enable purchase approval.
2. Schedule a 15-minute family meeting to explain in-app purchases and agree on rules.
3. Save contacts for your local consumer office, your bank’s fraud line, and the national cybercrime unit (Polizia Postale in Italy).

Final thoughts and call to action

Italy’s AGCM probe into Activision Blizzard’s mobile games is more than enforcement theater — it reflects a global shift toward holding developers and platforms accountable for manipulative monetization. Parents and local residents don’t have to wait for regulators to act. Use the tools and steps above, document any incidents, and reach out to your local consumer protection office if you need help.

Take action now: Audit your family’s device settings, save consumer hotlines, and share your experience with our local community—your report could help neighbors avoid the same problem. If you want, forward your refund attempts and timelines to your local Sportello per il Consumatore or a consumer association so they can track patterns and escalate systemic issues.

Stay informed: follow borough.info for local guidance on consumer protection, parenting tech tips, and updates to the AGCM Activision investigations as they develop through 2026.

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