As the mechanic has become increasingly prevalent in recent video games, the ethics of implementing loot boxes has become a significant concern across the world. Last year alone saw EA met with a significant fine from the Dutch government after accusations that games like FIFA were endorsing gambling to minors and the UK’s House of Lords call for loot boxes to be reclassified as gambling, stating that microtransactions encourage unhealthy behavior.
Germany is also seemingly taking a stand on the topic going forward, with a new reform being considered that, if passed, will add more significant warnings to games that feature loot box mechanics. Reported by Der Spiegel, if the reform is agreed upon, the country will look to expand age ratings “to include so-called descriptors” indicating loot boxes are included in the experience.
A detailed description of what would be introduced if the reform was passed can be found on the official Bundestag website while a variety of follow-up quotes were published in Der Spiegel’s report. Among several concerning internet practices it’s cracking down on – including hate speech and internet grooming – it lists “cost traps” as being something it wants to better warn those purchasing online products about. Initially, the reform implied that games featuring loot box mechanics could be met with an 18+ rating in the country, however, this has since been amended. The reform announcement now only mentions warnings for loot boxes rather than the concept of barring younger audiences from interacting with games featuring gambling-mechanics.
Of course, the law hasn’t been passed just yet, and will need to be agreed upon before it can be implemented. Germany is the next in a long line of countries that have begun to question the presence of loot boxes in games, especially considering titles that rely heavily on randomized microtransactions, like FIFA and Madden, have significant younger audiences. It appears industry trends continue to change in wake of these concerns, with several games switching to selling cosmetics or battle passes to negate the need for loot boxes.
That hasn’t stopped some companies from continuing to push the mechanic in recent years, chief among them being EA. The publisher has come under consistent fire for including loot boxes throughout the vast majority of its annual sporting franchises, with FIFA and Madden’s Ultimate Team Mode forcing the company into several heated legal battles. Other industry names have taken firm stances against the mechanic, with Fortnite’s CEO even likening the use of loot boxes to gambling on slot machines in a speech at DICE’s 2020 summit.
Source: Der Spiegel, The Bundestag
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