New Law for Games in China Means Players Will Know Item Drop Rates
China is actually passing a law that will show gamers the item drop rate percentage for crates, drops, and crafting systems. We already know what you’re thinking, players will see their chances of getting that Mercy Skin. But this is HUGE. From now on, publishers must reveal item drop rates for all their games in china . And what will that mean fro players? Less surprises? Less frustration? At the very least, prior knowledge.
Starting on May 1, 2017, Chinese players across all platforms will know their chances of receiving certain in-game items. This includes well-known titles like Overwatch whose loot crates are purely cosmetic. For all we know, this law is an immediate result of games’ commercial reliance on randomized loot systems. Seeing as many titles actually use in-game purchasing for dicey content, pun intended, China’s law may be a step towards transparency. That is, people who spend their money on randomized booty can avoid feeling cheated. Not to mention the fact that knowing the chances in lottery systems makes them seem less like gambling.
Herein is the law in question, as translated by NeoGaf user ChillyBright:
2.6 Online game publishers shall promptly publicly announce information about the name, property, content, quantity, and draw/forge probability of all virtual items and services that can be drawn/forge on the official website or a dedicated draw probability webpage of the game. The information on draw probability shall be true and effective.
2.7 Online game publishers shall publicly announce the random draw results by customers on notable places of official website or in game, and keep record for government inquiry. The record must be kept for more than 90 days. When publishing the random draw results, some measures should be taken place to protect user privacy.
Other implications for gamers? There is the possibility of a chain reaction, whereby other countries follow suit. The new law could allow players  to analyze the most efficient ways of obtaining valuable items. Moreover, widespread analysis of drop rates could actually dictate game item values, depending on which game we’re talking about. Worst case scenario, drop rate data affects the prices of items that can be exchanged for real world currency. Any MMO in the vein of World of Warcraft would be susceptible to this, and it doesn’t have to be an MMO. Best case scenario, game developers abandon lottery systems in favor of more rewards that rely on gamer merit. But that is unlikely.
All speculation, however. Effects of this law may vary, and we don’t even know if governments would take such steps in the western hemisphere. China will have to serve a “what-if ” sandbox while the effects of this law play out. Could it work for better or for worse? Give us your thoughts.