The UK’s Office of Fair Trading (OFT) is investigating whether children are being unfairly pressured or encouraged to buy additional content for free-to-play web and app-based games. The London-based𓆏 regulator has contacted companies offering free games supported by microtransactions in a bid to gather information on in-game marketing to kids and determine whether they're acting entirely within the law.

In particular, the OFT said it’s inves🌞tigating whether these games “include 'direct exhortations' to children - a strong encouragement to make a purchase, or to do something that will necessitate making a purchase, or to persuade their parents or other adults to make a purchase for them”. The practice is u𒁏nlawful under the Consumer Protection (from Unfair Trading) Regulations 2008.

Cavendish Elithorn, OFT senior director for goods and consumer, said: “The OFT is not seeking to ban in-game purchases, but the games industry must ensure it💫 is complying with the relevant regulations so that children are protected. We are speaking to the industry and will take enforcement action if necessary.”

The OFT has also called for parents and consumer g♒roups to contact it with information about what they believe to be mis🦋leading or commercially aggressive practices in this field.

Earlier this year in the US, Apple agreed to a lawsuit brought against the company in 2011 by parents who said their children had racked 🦂up significant credit card charges while playing supposedly free games. The iPhone maker subsequentlyಌ added a prominent "Offers In-App Purchases" warning to freemium apps on its digital marketplace.