UK Takes a Swipe at Video Game Loot Boxes Through New Guidelines

UK is cracking down on video game loot boxes with new guidelines

The UK will soon have stricter guidelines for video game sales, particularly when it comes to in-game purchases from loot boxes containing random in-game items. Concerned about the potential gambling nature of these items, not-for-profit gambling industry Ukie has announced various measures to safeguard against these products and ensure they are restricted to those over 18 years of age.

British authorities have expressed concerns for years about loot boxes in popular video games such as FIFA, Call of Duty and Mario Kart. They claim the options risk introducing a gambling culture, although government officials have been hesitant to introduce regulations.

Now the UK is following the lead of countries such as Japan, China, the Netherlands and Belgium in changing its stance. Ukie recently partnered with the government to launch a set of 11 industry standards to improve safety for children, young people and adults.

Loot boxes continue to lose ground

Loot boxes, skins, player packs, and other in-game items are always in the spotlight. Often, players purchase items in sealed containers without knowing what's inside. Some lawmakers believe this means it is a form of gambling.

Others disagree and say the item is not gambling because the buyer is always rewarded. Additionally, in most cases, these items have no real-world value outside of the game and can be obtained without spending real money.

Ukie said in its statement that loot boxes must be kept away from minors unless specifically allowed by their parents or guardians. Additionally, the association insists on providing players with appropriate spending controls and transparent information to achieve what they say is safe gaming.

The industry association worked closely with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), authorities, academics, interest groups and consumers to develop the eleven principles. "This demonstrates the video game industry's commitment to strengthening the protection and understanding of shared ideals," the statement said.

The guidelines require technical measures to ensure that anyone under the age of 18 does not have access to loot boxes without the express consent of a parent or guardian. Additionally, video game developers should provide clear information about the presence of these packages in their products before players purchase them.

To ensure fairness and promote good gameplay, it is critical that game developers give players clear clues about the contents of a chest before opening it. Using simple and easy-to-understand packaging techniques can go a long way toward achieving this goal.

Take out the money

The principles also include relaxed refund policies that target gamers rather than game developers or retailers. This policy applies to players and parents or guardians of children who accidentally purchase loot boxes or other in-game rewards. You can now easily request a refund.

Additionally, these principles emphasize the need for game developers to take a proactive role in responsible design. Ukie hopes that they will establish effective communication and cooperation channels with researchers, parents, etc. to prevent in-game items from being sold on third-party platforms.

Additionally, developers must prioritize protecting their intellectual property and invest in appropriate protections to counter this form of marketing. This will ultimately prevent some loot boxes from being sold for $9,000 or even $635,000, which is what someone would pay for a small portion of the Entropia Universe video game.

Encouraging collaboration between video game developers, the UK government and other relevant parties is vital. Next year, Ukie hopes they can come together to assess the effectiveness of the principles, which could lead to permanent regulations.