UK Investigates Microsoft, Sony, Nintendo Over Game Subscription Plans

An anonymous reader quotes Variety: The United Kingdom's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is launching a consumer law investigation into video game companies Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo over some of their business practices, it announced on Friday.

The CMA is concerned about whether or not some of the companies' practices are legal, including their use of auto-renewals for subscription services like Xbox Live, PlayStation Plus, and Nintendo Switch Online. It's also looking into their cancellation and refund policies and their terms and conditions. It said it's written to Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft requesting information on their online gaming contracts and it's calling on people who use these services to tell the CMA about their experiences.

Re: Socialism at work

[Anonymous Coward]

Wut? They're just protecting EU citizens from getting bilked by 1000 free trials with auto renewals. Subscriptions are the latest business trend in the US, with every CEO hoping you forget to cancel. We literally have a toothbrush subscription here.

Re:

[Anonymous Coward]

Only Microsoft is American in that list. Both Sony and Nintendo are Japanese.

Consumer protection

[Anonymous Coward]

Wow. You red-scare boomers are FUCKING STUPID.
If you go around equating consumer protection to socialism, you're actually promoting socialism.
So thanks for that.

Oh come on

[JustAnotherOldGuy]

I'm sure that Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo would never do anything sleazy or sneaky or underhanded or downright illegal. I mean, not after being caught so many times before...

Death by a 1000 subscriptions!

[TJHook3r]

It blows my mind at how many subscriptions we 'need' nowadays for some semblance of a social life! In the UK you don't get any sport for example unless you pay, and then each sport may be carved up between multiple providers, meaning a subscription for each. I realise these are all classed as luxury items but try telling that to teens with mates to hang out with.