The EU Is Coming For Gaming’s Most Manipulative Monetization Tactics

European consumer protection authorities have announced a series of "coordinated actions" aimed at 10 video companies, accusing several of the biggest names in the industry--like Activision Blizzard and Ubisoft--of "dark patterns" that are designed to put minors and individuals at risk of gaming addiction. If you've ever purchased in-game currency, then you're probably aware of how one of these tactics works. For example, Destiny 2's in-game currency, Silver, comes in bundles of 500, 1,000, and 1,500 units, but buying a fancy new skin for a set of armor ornaments costs between 600 and 1,500 Silver.