Special Feature: Let’s Check in on Loot Box Mania

Remember real money loot boxes? They started becoming prevalent a couple of years ago, but didn’t take off among several publishers until late last year. They came in the form of boxes or crates that drop random items, weapons, or outfits of varying worth. Blizzard’s Overwatch was the first to prominently feature them, mainly for outfits, and the company has been raking in cash from the feature for years as players continue to pay for more chances to obtain them.

Loot boxes were most notoriously used for Star Wars Battlefront II when it released last fall, where items and materials included in them were essential for its multiplayer mode, and players could roundaboutly spend money for more chances to get them. It was justifiably accused of being a pay-to-win scheme, and players who wanted to rely on their skill and luck while playing multiplayer sometimes found themselves at a disadvantage.

After being inundated by complaints over weeks, to the point where Disney had to step in for a short time, EA removed the microtransactions to put multiplayer games on a more equal playing field. The scandal surrounding this was likely the reason why it didn’t sell on par with the first game, and it led to an EA executive apologizing for it at E3, where they promised they’d never do it again.

When I last posted about “Loot Box Mania,” I mentioned how several countries opened investigations to determine how legal the feature is. The ability to spend real money on them brought comparisons to gambling, which is regulated depending on the country or territory. Some investigations are still ongoing, but others have completed.

The Netherlands concluded they were indeed gambling, and therefore illegal. Belgium determined the same after analyzing Overwatch, FIFA 18, and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. This immediately set up a battle between the two countries and companies, dependent on whether they’d comply with removing paid loot boxes from the games, or simply not release the games in those territories. Blizzard responded by stopping the sales of loot boxes that require real money for Overwatch and Heroes of the Storm in these territories, though left the in-game ones in. Valve did the same for CS:Go.

EA, on the other hand, didn’t care. It was clear they wanted to challenge the regulators after they refused to remove loot boxes from FIFA, and responded by saying its games are “developed and implemented ethically and lawfully around the world.” Anyone aware of how EA operates will roll their eyes at this statement, which is why they’re reportedly under criminal investigation over it. This is ongoing, so it could take a while before its resolved, assuming EA doesn’t settle with the Belgian government.

Meanwhile, an Australian Senate committee concluded that loot boxes are a gateway to gambling. They recommended to the full Senate that regulations be implemented to force companies to clearly advertise the presence of the feature in games that contain them. This was just a suggestion from the committee, so there’s no telling whether this will actually happen. A larger inquiry will release on the 17th, when a final recommendation on how to act will also be provided for the Senate.

On the other hand: Ireland determined that loot boxes aren’t gambling. This came from the Irish Department of Justice Minister of State (an incredible name, by the way), David Stanton, who told the Irish Senate that their department isn’t in the business of telling game developers how their games work. Notably, he also mentioned that any game that offers taking bets or risks for financial reward should be licensed as a gambling product. Belgium Justice Minister (another incredible name, by the way) Koen Greens called for the European Union to ban loot boxes earlier in the year, but that won’t be happening if every country in the EU isn’t on board.

Despite this continuing fiasco, publishers haven’t been relying on loot boxes as heavily as they were during the holiday season last year. The trusty old method of stuffing the game with optional microtransactions still persists, as shown through the recent release of Assassin’s Creed Odyssey and the upcoming Devil May Cry 5. You won’t have to use the microtransactions to complete the game, but they exist for anyone who wants to have an easier time going through it. Still, that they exist at all is scummy.

Loot boxes or not, publishers will always find some way to get consumers to pay more than the $60 they part with for standard editions of AAA games. Blame that on how expensive game development is, and it won’t get any better with new consoles on the way. It’s a shame we don’t live in a just world where publishers could take steps to address these development woes without resorting to asking for more money from the consumer, and could pay their employees good wages and severance. Apparently that’s too myopic a vision.