The European PEGI and the American ESRB will in future also point out loot box mechanisms in their age ratings, provided these are available in games.
It has long been considered whether this criterion will be taken into account after the publishers have developed increasingly aggressive models to encourage players to make in-game purchases or random loot box payouts. While bans of such mechanisms have already been introduced in some countries, the corresponding inspection bodies are opting for an additional solution.
PEGI’s announcement states:
“PEGI announced today that video game publishers will provide additional information about how in-game purchases are made if they contain random items (such as loot boxes or packs of cards). The information will be included in the form of a notice (includes paid random items) on physical packaging and in digital store fronts.
PEGI has assigned video game descriptors to in-game purchases since September 2018. Now a text box is added that contains additional information if the game contains paid and random items. ”
In the meantime, publishers are increasingly refraining from such practices, since one would have to publish versions adapted for specific countries. In general, the protest also worked on the part of the players, who were increasingly bothered by the loot box mechanics.
