Shape of Games to Come? Loot Boxes Were Just Banned in Belgium

Could Australia be the next to ban the dreaded loot box?

The Belgium Gaming Commission has declared that loot boxes, found in many modern video games, are "in violation of gambling legislation" and will now require game publishers to remove in-game transactions or be subject to criminal law.

Fines of €800,000 (or nearly $AU1.3 million) and even up to five years in prison might apply for publishers who don't comply with the ruling. According to a statement from the Commission, these punishments may double where minors are involved. 

A spokesperson for EA Sports, the publishers of the FIFA series, told GamesIndustry.biz that they're confident that their games do not involve gambling.

"We strongly believe that our games are developed and implemented ethically and lawfully around the world, and take these responsibilities very seriously," the spokesperson said.

"We care deeply that our players are having a fun and fair experience in all of our games, and take great care to ensure each game is marketed responsibly, including in compliance with regional ratings standards."

'Loot boxes' can be found in many popular games such as FIFA 18, PUBG, Overwatch and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and work by offering buyers a chance at getting rare in-game items like weapons and outfits. They are sold for a relatively small price (for e.g. $AU2.50 in PUBG) but the chance of obtaining these rarer items is often unclear and many loot boxes simply contain 'common' items.

As video game publishers look for new ways to monetise new games, in-game transactions have become a common occurrence so definitely watch this space.

Photo: Robot Entertainment