Norwegian gov't consumer watchdog calls out ‘enshittification’ of video games, connected devices, and others — claims hardware deliberately degraded after purchase

Source: Tom’s Hardware

Image credit: Canon Europe

Overview of the Forbrukerrådet Report

On 27 February 2026, Norway’s government‑funded Consumer Council (Forbrukerrådet) released an 80‑page report titled “Breaking Free: Pathways to a Fair Technological Future.” The study argues that many tech companies systematically degrade hardware and software after purchase to extract additional revenue from locked‑in consumers. The report highlights four categories where this practice is most acute:

• Connected devices (e.g., smart home appliances)
• Printers and printer consumables
• Video games (especially freemium titles)
• Cars and other connected vehicles

The full report is available here.

Examples of Degradation

Connected Devices & Appliances

The report cites cases where software updates can disable or limit functionality of devices such as washing machines, forcing users to purchase new hardware or subscribe to services.

Printers & Ink Cartridges

Printer manufacturers are accused of tying consumers to proprietary consumables and using firmware updates to render third‑party cartridges unusable.

Video Games

Freemium games increasingly rely on forced ad breaks and in‑game virtual currencies, turning what were once single‑purchase titles into recurring revenue streams.

Connected Vehicles

Features in modern cars can be gated or removed over time. For example, Tesla’s Full Self‑Driving (FSD) capability switched to a monthly subscription model on 14 February 2026, and the company announced it will stop selling FSD outright after that date.

“Companies can degrade the functionality of your car or effectively destroy your connected washing machine with a software update,” the report states.

Right‑to‑Repair Implications

The EU Right‑to‑Repair Directive, which entered into force on 31 July 2026, will require manufacturers to:

• Reduce parts pairing
• Allow third‑party repairs

This is expected to pose a significant challenge to printer makers and other ecosystems that have historically relied on proprietary consumables and service networks.

Open Letter to EU Policymakers

Alongside the report, Forbrukerrådet and 28 co‑signers—including the Electronic Frontier Foundation, Access Now, and Cory Doctorow—sent an open letter to EU policymakers on 27 February 2026. The letter urges:

• Stronger enforcement of the Digital Markets Act
• Robust application of the GDPR (see Tom’s Hardware coverage here)
• Opposition to the European Commission’s “Digital Omnibus” package, which they argue could dilute existing consumer protections

Towards a EU Digital Fairness Act

The coalition is advocating for the EU Digital Fairness Act, slated for inclusion in the Commission’s 2026 work programme with a proposal expected in Q4 2026. The act aims to address:

• Dark patterns and manipulative UI designs
• Influencer marketing abuses
• Addictive design practices
• Unfair personalization across digital products and services

A public consultation that closed in October 2025 received roughly 3,000 responses in its first two weeks, many from gamers demanding provisions to prevent publishers from disabling titles that consumers have already purchased—a movement known as Stop Killing Games.