Loot boxes remain one of the most controversial aspects of gaming in current times. A number of countries have weighed in on the issue over the past couple of years but there is still no general consensus regarding whether or not loot boxes actually constitute gambling. To that effect, a number of different policies have been implemented in a bid to tackle the issue. For instance, in the Netherlands, all companies are required to reveal all the contents of loot boxes when they are opened. Similarly, in China, the game developers are required to list the probability of receiving an item from loot boxes.
Now, the United States seems to be ready to take a stand in as far as loot boxes are concerned. Game developers who include loot boxes in their products have recently received a huge blow as Google has chosen to take an approach that is similar to China’s. This news comes as the company published a new Play Store policy that aims to address a number of issues including sexual content, hate speech as well as the aforementioned loot boxes.
“Apps offering mechanisms to receive randomized virtual items from a purchase (i.e. “loot boxes”) must clearly disclose the odds of receiving those items in advance of purchase,” reads the clause of the new policy that is related to loot boxes.
When these rules are eventually implemented, the software developers will be required to not only show the contents of a loot box but also specify the probability, otherwise referred to as odds, of receiving each individual item. As it stands, a decent number of game titles on the Play Store have already implemented the measure and it would only be logical for other popular titles like Clash Royale, PUBG Mobile, and Clash Royale to follow suit over the next few weeks.
How Will This Help?
The move by Google to revise its policies in this regard is meant to give players a better understanding of the ground reality of loot boxes. Case in point, when a player sees that the chances of them getting the shiny new weapon skin is critically low, they may be deterred from spending too much money at it. While the is no doubt that most gamers will still be throwing money at the games, the new policies will certainly be a handy tool.
Meanwhile, some lawmakers are actively seeking a ban on loot boxes. The bill has already gained bipartisan support and this significantly improves its chances of survival through the pending legislative hurdles. As expected, the bill has been subject to massive backlash from the video game industry – the Entertainment Software Association, for instance, has said that the legislative proposal to completely ban loot boxes is “flawed and riddled with inaccuracies”.
