Video games have changed a lot since I was a kid. It used to be that you bought a new game, popped the cartridge in your console and started playing.
Now you’ve got pre-order bonuses, day-one updates, Battle Passes, online multiplayer and a whole lot more. It’s a lot to take in, especially if you don’t know your Fortnite from your Five Nights at Freddy’s.
To help you make sense of it all, Daily Express recently spoke to Virgin Media Gamepad game expert Blake Manchester about how to keep your children safe online.
Most modern games have some kind of in-game purchasing option. Games like Fortnite are free to download and play, but have Battle Passes and outfits that can be purchased for real cash.
Then there are full-priced games like Cyberpunk, Elden Ring and Street Fighter 6, which offer additional content such as new missions, characters and stories for extra money.
Blake Manchester recommends talking to your children about in-game purchases to ensure they don’t accidentally spend your money on extra content.
“Certain games might be free to play at first but include in-game purchases,” Manchester explains.
“To ensure your child doesn’t accidentally spend money whilst playing, we recommend talking to them about the cost of in-game extras and actively monitoring your bills to ensure there are no unexpected costs coming through.”
Likewise, Manchester also recommends reading up on console controls to limit your child’s access to games and in-game purchasing.
“Each console comes with a suite of parental controls available which can limit things like access to certain titles and screen time,” Manchester continues.
“Manuals can be found online, or we’re always happy to help at Virgin Media Gamepad which is open seven days a week.”
Speaking of checking the manuals and settings, the same goes for in-game chat functions, especially when playing online multiplayer.
“Certain games allow gamer-to-gamer communication which parents may want to consider when understanding who has contact with their child.
“Settings can be accessed to turn off or limit chat functions if desired or required. Encourage open conversation about your child’s interactions online and consciously watch out for any behaviours which might require addressing head-on.”
In terms of what actually to buy for your children this Christmas, popular games at the Virgin Media Gamepad include EA Sports FC 25 (which is the new name for the FIFA series), free-to-play shooter Fortnite, Xbox exclusive racing game Forza Horizon 5 and Minecraft.
Manchester recommends shopping around for the best prices, either via digital storefronts that connect directly to your console, or for physical games.
“High street stores like GAME and CEX offer great deals and sell physical copies of games as well as second-hand options, which remain popular and are a joy to unwrap,” Manchester continues.
“However, it’s also worth shopping around online as video games can often be bought for a cheaper price digitally, via the official store off your console of choice.
“If you don’t want – or feel able – to buy a game on their console before the big day, consider a voucher to the official store for the same value. This can be redeemed 24/7 – including Christmas morning.”