From LauncherWP: U.K. won’t ban video game loot boxes following 2-year inquiry
Legislators around the world have become increasingly concerned with loot boxes, particularly in titles popular with children. In video games, loot boxes are capsules of random virtual items that can be purchased with real money, in-game currency or a combination of the two. The rewards obtained by opening a loot box can range from purely cosmetic items to rewards that enhance a player’s power in-game, a model decried as pay-to-win by many gamers.
— which outlines provisions for various forms of gambling including casino games, sports betting and scratch cards — could have repercussions for other industries.“Consumer products ranging from football stickers to trading cards, or even some subscription services such as ‘wine of the month’ clubs, rely on a mechanism whereby the real value or utility of the ‘prize’ is not necessarily known at the point of purchase,” reads the report.
“We expect the development of industry-led design norms and best practice guidance with regards to loot boxes to be an output of this work,” wrote the DCMS.