Loot Boxes Are in the Hot Seat Once Again
If you’ve been paying attention, you may have heard the whisperings of some potentially-incoming legal action against gaming monetization. The government of the United Kingdom doesn’t appear to be a fan of some goings-on, and were trying to figure out what, if anything, should be done about loot boxes.
The design of “pay to receive randomized rewards” has historically been controversial in the gaming space, with many players decrying their “predatory” nature. Arguments range from “please just let me purchase what I want” to “this prays on people with gambling addictions”. But for governments, the one they care about most is “think of the children!” There is concern about what habits might arise from getting children involved in “gambling” content. Others fear for unsuspecting parents, whose children might unknowingly drain bank accounts trying to buy a rare item. These concepts certainly have some resonance: two nations have already banned Diablo Immortal for its monetization scheme.
But those nations were not the UK. What did this nation have to say on the issue? “Our view is that it would be premature to take legislative action without first pursuing enhanced industry-led measures to deliver protections for children and young people and all players,” In simpler words, self-regulation.
It’s not a total rejection of players’ fears around loot boxes, however. But guidelines were released for how this content should be presented, and if they weren’t met, “we will not hesitate to consider legislative change.”
Do you think this was the correct move? Is the UK moving too slow, or too fast? How well-founded are gamers’ fears? We’d love to hear from you in the comments down below!