The UK games industry has unveiled plans to try and restrict access to loot boxes for children.
Loot boxes allow players to buy in-game extras that are assigned at random, but some are concerned about their relationship with problem gambling.
Ukie, the body that represents games companies, says the proposals will “improve protections for all players”.
They argue the 11 new guidelines “underline the industry’s commitment to safe and responsible play”.
Loot boxes are a way of spending real money to get digital items like new characters, in-game clothes, weapons, moves or experience points. Exactly what you’re getting with each box is random. Some compare them to buying a Kinder Egg or a packet of football stickers. Others say it’s like using a slot machine.
The UK government has spent three years figuring out what to do about them – from threats to ban their use for under-18s in the UK, to an edict last summer that games companies must create new rules to protect children and young people.
Are they a gateway to gambling addiction? Or just a fun mechanic that enhances players’ gaming experiences?
Some countries, like Belgium and the Netherlands, think the former and have banned them.
Last July, then Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries said that because the evidence about loot boxes was still emerging, “direct government intervention may risk unintended consequences”.
The games industry should come up with measures itself before any new laws are introduced, she said.
It’s taken nearly 12 months for those measures to be agreed upon.
The new principles
Ukie has published principles that it believes will allow the industry to self-regulate the use of loot boxes.
The first is a commitment to make available technological controls to effectively restrict anyone under 18 from acquiring a loot box without the consent or knowledge of a parent or guardian. Many of these controls are already available on games platforms but aren’t as widely used as they could be. The new principles set out best-practice for their use in an effort to increase take-up.
The second is to drive awareness of those controls with a public information campaign. An expert panel will be set up to share best practices on age assurance issues.
Ukie says games companies will disclose the presence of loot boxes before someone chooses to buy a title, and games will have to show clear probabilities before the purchase of a loot box.
The plans include rules on how loot boxes should be presented and a commitment to more lenient refund policies.
There is also a proposal to tackle the black market that surrounds these purchases and do more research about their impact and use.
Progress will be reviewed in 12 months.
