A detailed analysis of the EU law against "dark patterns": risks for developers, industry reactions, and comments from a legal expert

The main topic in the gaming industry this week is the upcoming Digital Fairness Act (DFA) in the EU. We delved into its key provisions and gathered developers' reactions. Aiding us in understanding the legal intricacies was Alina Davletshina, Head of the Digital Practice at Futura Digital.

The Essence of the DFA and the European Commission's Recommendations for Developers

In July 2025, the European Commission launched a public consultation phase to discuss the DFA, which will run until October 24th. A draft version is currently available, and the project is scheduled to be presented in the third quarter of 2026.

The DFA is aimed at regulating in-game purchases and monetization systems in video games, primarily in free-to-play titles. As Davletshina notes, in five words, the bill can be described as “protecting players from developers' unfair practices.”

The main provisions are summarized as: