Safe Gaming & Youth Protection

Peakvelop® | As of April 16, 2026

Transparency, education and practical support for parents around online games, in‑game purchases and healthy gaming habits.

1. Understanding in‑game purchases

Many games offer paid content — purchased directly in the browser, via the Apple App Store, the Google Play Store or Steam. As a parent, it is important to understand which types of purchases are possible and how they work technically.

Types of in‑game purchases

Cosmetic items
Skins, outfits, character designs, backgrounds and other purely visual elements that do not affect gameplay. These purchases are optional and have no impact on game progress or the fairness of the game. This means: a child who does not buy cosmetic items is not at a disadvantage compared to other players.

Virtual currencies
In some games, virtual coins or gems can be bought with real money and then used in the game to purchase additional content. Important: these virtual currencies have no real‑world monetary value, cannot be exchanged back into real money and are generally non‑refundable. Because money is converted into a game currency, children often lose a sense of the real value of what they spend.

Game content & expansions
Additional levels, game modes, characters or expansions that extend the scope of the game. These are purchased once and unlocked permanently — similar to buying DLC (downloadable content).

Battle passes / season passes
Time‑limited passes that unlock rewards over the course of a season (usually 6–12 weeks). Important: they have a fixed expiry date. Content that has not been unlocked by the end of the season can no longer be obtained afterwards. This expiry date deliberately creates pressure to play regularly.

⚠️ Pay special attention: loot boxes and random purchases
Some games offer so‑called loot boxes or random packs where the content is not known before the purchase. You pay a fixed amount and receive a random selection of items — similar to buying a mystery bag. This mechanism can encourage addictive behaviour, because the brain’s reward system is particularly strongly activated by uncertainty about the outcome (a so‑called variable reinforcement schedule — the same principle used in slot machines). Peakvelop always clearly labels such content. We recommend that parents pay particular attention to this type of purchase and talk about it openly with their child.

ℹ️ USK and PEGI age ratings
All Peakvelop games carry an official age rating from USK (Unterhaltungssoftware Selbstkontrolle) for Germany or PEGI (Pan European Game Information) for Europe. The PEGI label also explicitly indicates in‑game purchases — parents should look out for this symbol before buying a game. These ratings are binding recommendations and should always be observed. Further information: www.pegi.info | www.usk.de

2. Recognising problematic gaming behaviour

For most children and teenagers, digital games are a completely normal and positive leisure activity. They promote reaction speed, strategic thinking, teamwork and social interaction. Gaming only becomes problematic when it starts to crowd out other areas of life or when children lose control over how much they play.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has recognised “Gaming Disorder” as an independent condition in ICD‑11 since 2019. This does not mean that intensive gaming is automatically an illness — the diagnosis requires that the gaming behaviour leads to significant impairments in several areas of life over at least 12 months.

🚨 Warning signs of problematic gaming behaviour

• The child plays for many hours every day without stopping voluntarily
• Strong irritability or aggression when gaming is interrupted or prohibited
• Neglect of schoolwork, sports and friendships in favour of gaming
• Sleep problems due to late‑night gaming or constant preoccupation with the game
• The child lies about how much they play or hides it from their parents
• Noticeable mood changes: the child is only in a good mood while or after playing
• The child loses interest in activities they used to enjoy
• Constant pushing for more money for in‑game purchases or making secret purchases without parental knowledge
• The child hardly talks about anything other than the game
• Physical neglect: skipping meals, poor hygiene or lack of exercise

💡 When is gaming still normal?
Experts at the WHO and national health agencies suggest the following rough guideline: up to 1 hour a day for primary‑school children and up to 2 hours a day for teenagers is generally considered unproblematic — provided that other areas of life are not negatively affected. The crucial factor is not the exact amount of time, but whether the child is giving up other activities and whether they are able to stop playing on their own. A child who can stop after two hours without a struggle and then happily does other things does not have problematic gaming behaviour — even if they play every day.

Knowing the risk factors

Personal risk factors:

• Social isolation or few friendships in real life
• School stress, bullying or other burdens
• Low self‑esteem that is compensated for in the game (being “good” and feeling valued there)
• Existing ADHD diagnosis (increased sensation‑seeking, more difficulty with impulse control)
• Anxiety disorders or depression (using games as a place to withdraw)
• Family conflict that leads to retreat into the digital world

Game‑related risk factors:

• Games without a clear end point (open‑world games, MMORPGs)
• Daily changing rewards (daily quests, daily login bonuses)
• Social obligations to other players (guilds, teams, clans — the feeling of letting others down)
• Ranked modes and strong competitive pressure (competitive modes, ranked systems)
• Loot boxes and other random reward mechanics

3. Prevention & practical recommendations

Principles of healthy media use

✅ Play together.
Showing genuine interest in your child’s game builds trust and gives you insight. Ask what they play, why they enjoy it and which friends they play with. Children whose parents show real interest are more likely to talk openly about problems.

✅ Agree on clear time limits.
Set fixed gaming times together — and no screen time at least one hour before bedtime. Written family rules that you create and sign together help to prevent conflict and give your child clear guidance. Rules imposed without involving the child are more likely to lead to resistance.

✅ Set a monthly spending limit.
Talk openly about money and in‑game purchases. Explain what a €4.99 purchase means in real‑world terms (for example how many hours of work that represents). A fixed monthly budget for digital content — for example €10 as part of their pocket money — gives children responsibility without giving them unlimited access.

✅ Keep devices out of the bedroom.
Smartphones, tablets and consoles do not belong in children’s bedrooms at night. Charge devices in a central spot in another room. Studies show that children without devices in their bedroom sleep around an hour longer on average.

✅ Actively promote offline alternatives.
Sports, music, reading or family activities are not competitors to gaming but the foundation of balanced media use. Children with a rich offline life are less likely to develop problematic gaming behaviour.

✅ Build media literacy.
Explain how in‑game purchases, advertising, loot boxes and reward systems work. A child who understands that daily login bonuses are designed to make them come back every day is less vulnerable to manipulative design.

✅ Have regular check‑ins.
Ask in a relaxed setting — for example at dinner — how your child feels about their gaming. No accusatory questions, but genuine curiosity. Children who feel they are allowed to talk about games are more likely to come to their parents if something feels wrong.

✅ Be a role model.
Children copy their parents’ behaviour. If parents are constantly on their phones or have no clear boundaries for their own screen time, it is harder to expect different behaviour from their children.

💬 Helpful ways to start a conversation
“I love how enthusiastic you are about this game. Can you show me what it’s about?”

“We’ve noticed you’ve been spending a lot of time playing lately. How do you feel about that?”

“I’m worried because … What do you think about it?”

“Let’s think together about how we can organise things so you have enough time to play and still do [other activity].”

“What do you like so much about this game? What makes it exciting for you?”

4. Setting up parental controls

All major platforms offer parental control features that can block in‑app purchases, limit playtime and filter content. Set these up before your child starts playing — not only after something has gone wrong.

🍎 Apple (iPhone / iPad / Mac)

• Open Settings → turn on Screen Time
• Set up “Communication Limits” and “App Limits”
• Use “Content & Privacy Restrictions” → disable in‑app purchases
• Set up Family Sharing: your child must request your approval for every purchase
• Configure age‑appropriate content restrictions (for example up to 12+)
• Further information: support.apple.com

🤖 Android (Google Play)

• Open Google Play → Settings → Parental controls
• Enable a PIN for all purchases
• Set content filters by age
• Set up Google Family Link: full parental control over apps and purchases
• Require approval for every app installation and purchase
• Further information: families.google.com/familylink/

🎮 Steam (PC)

• Activate Steam Guard (two‑factor authentication)
• Set up Family View / Family Mode: protect purchases and settings with a PIN
• Use Family View to define an approved game list — your child only sees those titles
• Do not store your credit card as the default payment method
• Load Steam Wallet credit consciously and with a clear limit
• Further information: support.steampowered.com

🌐 Browser games

• Do not store any payment methods in your child’s browser profile
• Make sure your child cannot access your parent account (create their own user profile)
• Disable autofill for credit card details in the browser
• Enable browser‑based parental controls (for example Microsoft Family Safety on Windows)
• Use your router’s parental controls and time limits (see below)

🖥️ Windows / Xbox

• Create a child account at account.microsoft.com/family
• Set spending limits for the Microsoft Store
• Configure screen‑time limits for all linked devices
• Set content filters according to age ratings
• Require purchase approval: your child’s requests are sent to you by email
• Further information: account.microsoft.com/family

📡 On the router level (all devices — particularly effective)

• On many routers (for example Fritz!Box), you can enable parental controls with daily profiles that block internet access during school times and after a certain hour in the evening.
• DNS filters such as CleanBrowsing or FamilyShield block inappropriate content on all devices in your home network without changing settings on each device.
• Create a separate Wi‑Fi network for children with its own time limits and stricter rules.

🔐 The single most important measure: never save your credit card on a child account.
The most effective protection against unwanted purchases is a strict separation of payment methods. Create separate accounts for children without any stored payment method. If your child wants to buy digital content, you can consciously load credit — for example with prepaid gift cards bought in a store.

5. Unwanted purchases & refunds

Sometimes children make purchases without their parents’ knowledge or permission — for example because payment details are stored in the browser, they gained access to a parent account, or the PIN was left unattended. This happens even to very careful parents. We take these cases seriously and actively support affected families.

Immediate steps if you see unknown charges

Step 1 – Stay calm and check your statement
Look at the exact amount, date and payment reference. Bank statements often show “Apple”, “Google” or “Steam” as the payee, which already indicates which platform is responsible.

Step 2 – Secure the payment method
Remove stored credit cards from the affected accounts immediately to prevent further purchases. Change the password of the relevant account.

Step 3 – Dispute purchases with the platform
Apple, Google and Steam have their own refund procedures for purchases that were accidental or made by minors. They are often more accommodating than parents expect — especially for first‑time incidents.

Step 4 – Contact Peakvelop directly
For purchases in our browser‑based games, you can contact us directly. We review each case individually and support families — including full refunds in appropriate cases.

Step 5 – Close security gaps
Work out how the purchase was technically possible (stored payment data, missing PIN, shared account etc.) and put the protections from section 4 in place.

Refund options by platform

🍎 Apple App Store
Purchases can usually be requested for a refund within 90 days via reportaproblem.apple.com. In many cases, Apple is understanding when it comes to purchases made by minors without parental consent.

🤖 Google Play
Purchases can be cancelled directly via the order history in Google Play within 48 hours. After that, you can still submit a request to Google Support.

🎮 Steam
Steam usually refunds games within 14 days and under 2 hours of playtime. In‑game purchases (virtual currency, cosmetic items, etc.) can be requested via Steam Support, but refunds are less guaranteed.

🤝 Peakvelop’s approach to unwanted purchases
For unwanted spending in our browser games, we decide on a case‑by‑case basis. Please email us a short description of what happened, including the approximate date and total amount, at [email protected]. We usually reply within 1–2 business days. Please keep your bank statements and any receipts.

6. Support & counselling services

If you are worried about your child’s gaming habits, you are not alone. The following services can help you assess the situation and find suitable support.

🇩🇪 Germany

“Ins Netz gegangen?!” – counselling centre database for media addiction
A nationwide online database specifically for counselling centres dealing with internet, media and gaming addiction. Parents can search by postcode or town to find services with experience in gaming and online addiction.
Web: www.ins-netz-gehen.de

DigiSucht – digital addiction counselling
Free, anonymous online counselling (chat, email, video) run by the German addiction support system. Professionals advise on problematic media use and gaming and can refer you to local services.
Web: www.suchtberatung.digital

Aktiv gegen Mediensucht e. V.
A self‑help platform dedicated to media, internet and gaming addiction with online self‑help groups, forums and information for parents and relatives.
Web: www.aktiv-gegen-mediensucht.de

🇦🇹 Austria

rataufdraht.at: free, anonymous counselling for children, teenagers and parents — by phone and online; a good first contact point if you are worried about gaming.

Saferinternet.at – “Verhaltenssucht” (behavioural addiction) section: lists Austrian services for gaming addiction, smartphone overuse and problematic internet use.

🇨🇭 Switzerland

Cantonal addiction counselling services (for example Suchtberatung Aargau, Arud, Fachverband Sucht) offer support for behavioural addictions such as gaming disorder and can refer you to therapy services.

Sucht Schweiz provides nationwide information on behavioural addictions, problematic screen use and where to get help.
Web: www.suchtschweiz.ch

🇪🇺 Europe‑wide

Better Internet for Kids (BIK)
EU platform that bundles Safer Internet Centres and helplines across member states. Parents can find country‑specific hotlines, counselling services and educational material about safe online use, gaming and in‑game purchases.
Web: betterinternetforkids.eu

🇺🇸 USA

SAMHSA National Helpline
A free, confidential 24/7 hotline from the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration for individuals and families facing addiction or mental health issues; they can help you find local services, including for gaming‑related problems.
Phone: 1‑800‑662‑HELP (4357)

NAMI HelpLine (National Alliance on Mental Illness)
Central contact point for relatives and people affected by mental health issues, including behavioural addictions such as gaming disorder; offers information, emotional support and referrals to local help.
Phone: 800‑950‑NAMI (6264)

Gaming Addicts Anonymous (GAA)
An international 12‑step self‑help fellowship specifically for problematic gaming and gaming addiction, with in‑person and online meetings; also helpful for older teens and adults.
Web: gamingaddictsanonymous.org

7. Contact Peakvelop

If you have questions about in‑game purchases, unwanted spending or concerns about your child’s gaming behaviour, you can contact us at any time. We usually respond within 1–2 business days.

Email support:
[email protected]
For questions about unwanted purchases, refunds and youth protection in our games.

Phone:
+49 (89) 901 827 89
Mon–Fri, 9am–5pm (CET)

Postal address:
Peakvelop®

Owner: Maximilian Beyerer

Sonnenleite 11
82110 Germering
Germany

Website:
www.peakvelop.com