European Report Urges Stricter Oversight Of In-Game Purchases - 1

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European Report Urges Stricter Oversight Of In-Game Purchases

  • Written by Kiara Fabbri Former Tech News Writer
  • Fact-Checked by Justyn Newman Former Lead Cybersecurity Editor

A new report raises concerns about the increasing use of premium currencies in video games and mobile apps, warning of potential risks, especially for children, and calling for stricter regulation.

Today, the European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) filed a complaint on behalf of consumer groups from 17 countries, accusing several popular video games of “unfair practices” and violating consumer protection laws in relation to in-app and in-game purchases.

The complaint targets widely played games such as Epic Games’ Fortnite, Supercell’s Clash of Clans, Microsoft’s Minecraft, and EA Sports FC 24, as noted by TechCrunch .

The report examines the growing trend of in-game and in-app premium currencies used in video games and mobile applications. These virtual currencies allow players to purchase additional content, features, or advantages within the game or app.

While offering potential convenience and revenue for developers, the report raises concerns about potential consumer risks associated with these practices.

The report criticizes the lack of transparency in pricing models for premium currencies, often lacking clear real-world values. This can lead to overspending, especially for younger players.

Additionally, the report expresses concerns about the use of manipulative techniques to encourage in-app purchases.

Game developers may employ tactics like limited-time offers, social pressure within the game environment, and loot boxes to entice players to spend real money. These practices can exploit impulsive behavior and lead to excessive spending.

The report also raises concerns about age targeting and the potential for gambling-like behavior associated with in-app purchases. Games with in-game purchases may be targeted towards younger audiences, who may be less aware of the financial implications of their actions.

The use of loot boxes with randomized rewards is likened to gambling, increasing the risk of compulsive spending and addiction.

Finally, the report questions whether in-app purchases create an unfair advantage for those who spend real money. This could potentially distort the gameplay experience and create a “pay-to-win” environment where success is determined by financial investment rather than skill.

BEUC recommends regulating in-game premium currencies by enforcing clear pricing models that translate virtual currency into real-world costs. It also calls for banning manipulative tactics like loot boxes and limited-time offers, along with stronger parental controls and educational campaigns to raise awareness of the risks for children.

Adding to these concerns, Kaspersky experts have released a recent report detailing a significant increase in online threats targeting young gamers. Kaspersky’s findings reveal that cybercriminals are exploiting these games by offering fraudulent free in-game items or using phishing tactics to steal personal information.

This is particularly troubling given BEUC’s concerns about manipulative practices and potential gambling-like behavior associated with in-app purchases.

Adobe Shares Update on Upcoming Generative AI Video Tool - 2

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Adobe Shares Update on Upcoming Generative AI Video Tool

  • Written by Andrea Miliani Former Tech News Expert
  • Fact-Checked by Justyn Newman Former Lead Cybersecurity Editor

Adobe shared this Wednesday an update on its upcoming AI video tool, the Firefly Video Model, which will be released later this year as part of the Firefly image-generating line.

“We’re excited to share a peek at the upcoming Firefly Video Model and some of the revolutionary professional workflows it’ll power in our industry-leading video tools like Premiere Pro, available starting in beta later this year,” wrote Ashley Still, Senior Vice President & General Manager of Creative Product Group at Adobe.

In a short video posted on YouTube, Adobe shared high-quality videos and images created with the new model and highlighted features like text-to-video and image-to-video prompt options, editing and creation tools like camera control or transition optimizations, and an exploring tool for inspiration.

“At Adobe, we are building the future of video to help editors realize their creative vision faster and push it further,” states the narrator in the promotion teaser at the beginning.

Adobe also highlighted that all creations are commercially safe as they only use licensed content or public domain data to feed its AI tool, and not creators’ and other users’ creations.

According to Reuters , each prompt can generate a 5-second video and users can include camera, zoom, panning, or motion indications.

“We’ve invested in making this model reach the level of quality and prompt understanding that videographers expect,” said Alexandru Costin, vice president of generative AI at Adobe, to Reuters. “We’ve invested in making sure we really pay attention to the prompt… respecting guidance from videographers much better than other (AI video) models.”

Adobe Firefly Video Model will compete against similar tools in the market like Sora, and ByteDance’s recently announced AI video creator Jimeng AI .