Take-Two Interactive and 2K Games are being sued as part of a class action lawsuit relating to the publishers’ use of digital currency. The lawsuit (via GameIndustry.biz), filed on November 17 in the Northern District of California, accuses both companies (Take-Two is the parent company of 2K Games) of theft and deceptive business practices. In particular, the suit emphasizes the fact that for big annual games, like NBA 2K, the currency purchased expires with the game’s online servers and cannot be refunded or transferred to a newer title.
A parent representing their child filed the suit, whichseeks “equitable non-monetary and monetary relief” for themselves and for any consumers whose purchased virtual currency that expired from November 17, 2019 to the present. The lawsuit discusses that much of the video game industry’s massive revenue intake is from the selling of virtual currency and that this currency is marketed to children via product tie-ins.
The suit claims that the practice of wiping out virtual currency is unusual in the business, as games like Call of Duty allow their players to transfer their currencies into future titles. It further claims that there is no technological limitation that prevents currency transfer and 2K Games offers no explanation for the policy. Furthermore, 2K does not warn players upon purchase that it can destroy the currency.
A recent statement from Take-Two CEO expressed an intention to monetize “100% of the audience” for mobile games. In other news, a GTA 6 trailer is set to debut in December.
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