Battlefront II’s loot boxes controversy has seen even the Law Makers step in. This week we heard that representatives from Hawaii, Belgium and even Australia were looking into loot boxes and whether it can be classified as gambling.
Hawaiian State Rep Chris Lee had this to say:
“We are looking at legislation this coming year which could prohibit the sale of these games to children who are under age as well as putting in different kinds of mechanisms in those games,” Lee said. “We’ve been talking with several other states as well, legislators there who are looking at the same thing. This needs to be addressed before it becomes the new norm.”
The loot boxes controversy is at the center of the recent Star Wars Battlefront II debacle , with EA having been caught with their pants down whilst using highly exploitative practices which they later termed as microtransactions.
bear in mind microtransactions are not all bad if implemented correctly, and for a lack of a better example it’s just like power . Wield it responsibly and the kingdom is at peace, Wield it to your hearts content and the kingdom can fall into chaos.
However the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) may have just handed EA and Star Wars battlefront II a lifeline. According to ESA loot boxes cant be considered gambling. Here’s their statement given to Glixel.
“Loot boxes are a voluntary feature in certain video games that provide players with another way to obtain virtual items that can be used to enhance their in-game experiences. They are not gambling. Depending on the game design, some loot boxes are earned and others can be purchased. In some games, they have elements that help a player progress through the video game. In others, they are optional features and are not required to progress or succeed in the game. In both cases, the gamer makes the decision.”
What do you make of ESA’s statement ? let us know by commenting in the comments section below.
