For some time now, different executives have become aware of regulating loot boxes in video games.
The Department of Culture, Media and Sport of the United Kingdom has expressed its concern about lootboxes and has opened up to look for evidence to classify them as bets, since from this body they defend that they promote gambling behaviors among children.
“They are virtually speculative commodities that help normalize and encourage young people to take risks,” says Carolyn Harris, one of the people in Parliament who is investigating loot boxes. “Too often, this will lead young people to develop an addiction.”
A loot box.
FIFA, one of the designated
If the government decides to classify loot boxes as bets, this will force these titles to be rated as +18 games, unless developers modify their products in such a way that they fit current legislation. One of the titles that is in the spotlight is FIFA, whose Ultimate Team mode sells lootboxes in the form of virtual card packs. This mechanic provides Electronic Arts with an important source of income.
In some countries like Belgium, loot boxes have already been classified as bets. EA’s reaction was to stop selling FIFA Points, the ingame currency of its sports title, which means that in that country it is only possible to get the packs through virtual money earned by playing. The North American giant said the following then: “We seek to offer options, justice, value and fun to our players in all titles. In addition to providing options on how to play, we include probability packs ”, with an eye on transparency.
According to the company, they are taking action, but do not agree with the interpretation of the law that has been made by the Belgian government. “We will continue to seek clarity on this matter from now on,” they reported. “The impact of this change” in Belgium, they assured, has not damaged its financial performance.
