It’s been a hot button topic in gaming for the past few months, loot boxes and microtransactions. Some people have been able to link them to the same predatory nature that Las Vegas casinos employ. Lately, they have actually come under fire by some government figures who have been trying to get some regulation in place so kids can’t get their hands on these and accidentally blow all their parents’ money. Well, at the Federal Trade Commission’s open panel on microtransactions in video games, all three of the big console players have announced that they have voluntarily agreed to change policies towards loot boxes.
The ESA‘s Micheal Warnecke defended the policies in broad terms, stating that and new games or game updates will have to disclose the rarity of items.
Microsoft, Nintendo, and Sony have indicated to the ESA a commitment to new platform policies with respect to the use of paid loot boxes in games that are developed for their platform, specifically, this would apply to new games and game updates that add loot box features, and it would require the disclosure of the relative rarity or probabilities of obtaining randomized virtual items in games available on their platforms.
While some powerful entities have proposed banning the practice of loot boxes altogether, some developers are taking preemptive measures in making sure these things don’t fall into the wrong hands. Psyonix, developers of Rocket League, is one of those who have decided to get rid of loot boxes in their game for good.
Some developers, such as EA, Blizzard, and Capcom, have actually applauded this action and plan to fully cooperate with the new policies.
What do you think of the new actions towards loot boxes? What do you think of them in general? Are they some predatory scourge or just harmless fun? Sound off in the comments!
