More than 20 national consumer agencies, including the Irish Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC), participated in a global sweep to examine 439 mobile and online games for potential consumer harms. This initiative was coordinated by the International Consumer Protection Enforcement Network (ICPEN) and aimed to identify manipulative design techniques that could affect players, particularly children as young as three.

The investigation uncovered several concerning design practices, including 'sneaking,' where critical information, such as the actual price of in-game currencies, is hidden from players. Another tactic identified was 'nagging,' which involves sending repeated notifications to players, pressuring them into making purchases out of frustration. Additionally, 'obstruction' tactics were noted, where game designs intentionally frustrate players, pushing them towards making purchases to progress.

The sweep also scrutinized the use of loot boxes—virtual rewards that can be bought or earned in games. Alarmingly, only 30% of games featuring loot boxes disclosed this monetization method at the download stage. The prevalence of loot boxes, in-game purchases, and advertisements was found to be similar across games rated for ages three and older, raising significant concerns about the exposure of young players to these practices.

Furthermore, the investigation highlighted urgency tactics that mislead players into believing that certain items were available for a limited time, pressuring them to make hasty purchases. The CCPC and other participating authorities are dedicated to ensuring consumer protection against unfair and deceptive practices in the gaming industry. The full report detailing the findings of the sweep is available on ICPEN’s website.