Probe into makers of ‘Candy Crush’ and ‘Minecraft’

Candy Crush is an all-ages hit.  The makers of Candy Crush, Minecraft, and Clash of Clans, are among nine online gaming companies under investigation by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) and European consumer authorities for potential breaches of consumer protection law. 

The makers of Candy Crush, Minecraft, and Clash of Clans, are among nine online gaming companies under investigation by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) and European consumer authorities for potential breaches of consumer protection law.

The investigation, which is being carried out through the European Commission’s Consumer Protection Cooperation (CPC) Network, is looking into in-game purchases, in-game virtual currencies, consumer rights when making purchases, transparency around costs, and the fairness of terms and conditions.

The companies under investigation include: Crytek GmbH, InnoGames GmbH, King.com Operations (Malta) Ltd, Mojang AB, Plarium Europe, PLR Worldwide Sales Ltd, Riot Games Ltd, Supercell Oy, and Ubisoft EMEA SAS. Candy Crush is make by King, Clash of Clans is made by Supercell, while Minecraft is made by Mojang. Other games owned by the nine companies and now under scrutiny include: Hunt: Showdown 1896, Forge of Empires, Candy Crush Saga, Minecraft, Mech Arena, Gardenscapes, Valorant, Clash of Clans, and For Honor.

“Millions of consumers across Europe play video games, many of which are children. Consumers should be able to enjoy these games without being misled about costs, pressured into making purchases, or left unclear about their rights," said CCPC member Geoffrey Gray. "This investigation is focused on ensuring consumers are given clear information, treated fairly, and properly protected when spending money in games.

“The CCPC will continue to lead alongside our European consumer colleagues to make the online gaming space a safer and more transparent space for all.”

 Under the Consumer Protection Cooperation framework, the CCPC works with national authorities across EU member states to effectively tackle widespread infringements of EU consumer law and to review the commercial practices of traders.

The CPC Network is also engaging with Activision Bizzard UK Ltd, part of the Microsoft group, regarding the games Diablo Immortal and Call of Duty. This action relates to the sale of virtual currencies, how personal data is collected, potentially addictive designs, parental controls, direct marketing to children, the availability of pre-contractual information, and the blocking of gaming accounts.

Separately, in 2025, the CCPC was one of 20 consumer agencies taking part in an international sweep of 439 mobile and online games to identify potential consumer harms. The sweep, coordinated by the International Consumer Protection Enforcement Network (ICPEN), found several design techniques that may aim to manipulate players as young as three into making decisions or purchases they wouldn’t otherwise make.