Ross Scott, founder of the advocacy group Stop Killing Games, warns that the legislation could render the EU a pariah for the gaming industry. The proposed rules mandate an eight-hour nighttime lockout, restricted social features like leaderboards, and stringent age verification for any title not strictly offline or educational. For developers, this necessitates costly redesigns and the integration of third-party verification services, a burden that threatens to bury smaller creators under the weight of compliance.
EU Kids Act Faces Industry Backlash Over Compliance Costs
The European Commission’s proposed Kids Act, designed to safeguard children online, faces intense industry opposition as trade groups warn the regulation could force developers to abandon the EU market. Critics argue that mandatory age verification and restrictive gameplay features threaten to stifle small studios and legacy titles alike.
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Legal experts remain skeptical of the Commission’s impact assessment, noting a distinct lack of concrete cost estimates for these measures. Lauro Fava of Pinsent Masons highlights that the reliance on third-party age assurance providers creates significant overhead that the Commission has arguably downplayed. With the prospect of rising prices for players and the potential for studios to geo-block the region entirely, the gaming community fears the legislation will ultimately result in the mass deactivation of both modern and historical games.
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