Loot boxes have been thrust into the spotlight after China started cracking down on the practice, especially for minors. The EU may be the next region in the world that will implement stricter regulations once its investigation is done.
The European Commission is reportedly taking a hard look at the practice of offering loot boxes to players in games.
According to Evelyn Braun, Team Leader for Digital and Unfair Practices at the EU Commission, the regulatory body is currently examining this type of microtransaction as it involves uncertainty-based rewards. Braun shared that the results of its investigation will be published in a report which is due in June 2024.
“Consumer protection aspects of loot boxes and other virtual items with uncertainty-based rewards are examined in the European Commission’s ongoing evaluation. Report due around June 2024,” Braun wrote.
Consumer protection aspects of loot boxes and other virtual items with uncertainty-based rewards are examined in the European Commission's ongoing evaluation. Report due around June 2024
— Egelyn Braun (@egelynbraun) October 27, 2023
Many see loot boxes as a form of digital gambling with real-world money as it involves luck in determining rewards. Players are often enticed to purchase loot boxes to earn limited-edition in-game items. However, some loot boxes, like FIFA ’23’s FUT Pack or NBA 2K24’s MyTeam Packs, are chance-based purchases with varying degrees of success. Often, players would get items they do not really need and are enticed to buy more loot boxes to try and win the ultimate in-game prizes.
In FIFA ’23, if you want to have an ultimate team composed of the best players, you will have to send some serious cash or be extremely lucky. FUT cards for popular players like Leonel Messi or Kylian Mbappe are very hard to come by.
Players have often complained that loot boxes, especially in sports games like FIFA and NBA 2K, make games “pay-to-win” for gamers who have money to spend on loot boxes. Throughout the years, it has been getting extremely hard to compete against players who spend real-world money on loot boxes to acquire the best cards in games. Gamers who do not wish to purchase loot boxes have to grind for countless hours to stay competitive in matches against other players online.
FIFA ’23’s recently launched successor, EA Sports FC, has recently been under fire from players for its Elite Season Opener packs which cost roughly $30. Players can purchase the packs for 285,000 ultimate team coins or 3,000 FC points. Gamers who purchase the packs are rewarded with 45 Rare Gold players with 80 ratings which in theory gives those who spent money an unfair advantage.
The European Union previously tried to have loot boxes tagged as gambling because of the uncertainty-based rewards. However, the regulation has failed to gain widespread adaptation within the region. Several countries like Austria have adopted measures to regulate loot boxes and recently fined EA a sum of 10,800 euros for violating laws on the use of loot boxes.
Loot boxes generate some of the biggest revenues for games such as FIFA and NBA 2K. With these games on an annual release schedule and being full-priced titles make microtransactions like loot boxes a fleeting investment. Should there be laws regulating loot boxes? We think so. It would be best to allow these types of transactions only for adult players. Regulations should also be in place to put a ceiling on the odds that loot boxes have.
