The European Commission fined several PC video game publishers for violating their antitrust rules. The charge on which they were fined is called Geoblocking. The report has warned other video game publishers and protected the rights of players in Europe. Let’s learn more about how video game publishers like Valve, Bethesda, and Capcom are fined for $9.5 million by the EU commission for Geo-blocking!
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What Is Geo-Blocking?
Geo-blocking is a practice where platform owners such as Steam forcing its users in one country to pay for a set video game price only for that country, even when a cheaper option may be available for purchase in some other European country. All together European Union’s anti-trust commission has fined Bandai Namco, Capcom, Focus House, Koch Media, and ZeniMax (Bethesda) over €6.2 million. Valve, the operators and house owners of Steam, have been fined around €1.6 million for not cooperating with the Commission.
This is not the first time Valve has chosen not to cooperate with lawsuits and charges. Valve’s response was similar to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission when lawsuits were filed related to Valve in 2016. Valve, in the end, was fined $3 million under the Australian Consumer Code.
#EUAntitrust Commission 🇪🇺 fines Valve and five publishers of PC video games 🎮 € 7.8 million for “geo-blocking” practices ⬇️https://t.co/uPxOmHndSD pic.twitter.com/z00Gel3WEs
— EU Competition (@EU_Competition) January 20, 2021
European Union’s Statement About The Fines
“Today’s sanctions against the “geo-blocking” practices of Valve and five PC video game publishers serve as a reminder that under EU competition law, companies are prohibited from contractually restricting cross-border sales,” EU competition Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager said in a statement regarding the recent fines on the PC game publishers. “Such practices deprive European consumers of the benefits of the EU Digital Single Market and of the opportunity to shop around for the most suitable offer in the EU.”
We’ll update you more on the recent happenings in this proceeding European Commission’s fines on video game publishers for unlawful practices. Until then, Stay tuned to Game Stanza, follow us on Google News for more updates on Gaming regulations and recent happenings in the gaming world.
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