×

Italy probes Microsoft’s unit over sale practices for ‘Call of Duty’ and ‘Diablo’ video games

By Thomson Reuters Jan 16, 2026 | 1:25 AM

MILAN, Jan 16 (Reuters) – Italy’s competition authority on ‍Friday said it had opened two investigations on Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard ‌unit over allegedly “misleading ‌and aggressive” sale practices for video games “Diablo Immortal” and “Call of Duty ​Mobile”.

The regulator said the ‍company was “operating ​in a ​manner that violates ‍consumer protection legislation and, in particular, the professional diligence required in ‍a sector highly sensitive to the risks of ‍developing ‍gambling addiction.”

Microsoft’s ​Italian press ​office ⁠did not immediately ‌respond to a request for comment.

(Reporting by Sara Rossi, editing by Alvise ⁠Armellini)