Last year may have been one of the biggest years in video game by far. It had several major 1st party and 3rd party releases that sold millions of copies, and several of which were so beloved that many believed that they changed the world of gaming. However, it was also one of the most controversial years in video gaming because of certain titles going big on Loot Boxes, Loot Crates, and Microtransactions. Titles like Battlefront II, Destiny 2, Need For Speed: Payback and more push the envelope too far in that regard, and people took notice.
And not just the gamers of the world, but the governments of the world. After hearing some of the backlash around Loot Boxes and crates, several government officials took a stand to try and ensure this didn’t happen again. A bill in Hawaii is under review that could deny microtransactions and Loot Boxes in games. As for Australia, they’re making sure people know what they’re getting into.
For on the Office of the eSafety Commissioner’s site, they have a list of guidelines meant to help protect people before they go and do certain things online. And now, under the “online gambling” section, you’ll find this:
“Some online games include activities and features that are normally associated with gambling—like ‘loot’ boxes, ‘bundles’, ‘crates’ and ‘cases’ that provide a random chance to win virtual items, which can include an in-game currency.”
The website breaks down just about everything of notes about Loot Crates and such, and explains why they can be dangerous to purchase. Now, these are just guidelines, Australia isn’t banning the release or use of Loot Boxes, but they do consider them gambling, and that’s something. This year could see a big swing in how these are used, so stay tuned for more info.
