Europe lawmakers are now tougher action against loot boxes

Loot boxes have long been a thorn in the side of youth advocates. A reform of the Youth Protection Act has now been passed.

On reformed youth protection law was passed by the Bundestag. The law was previously introduced by the Federal Ministry of Family Affairs with some amended sections. As a change, new regulations are intended to ensure that children and young people are better protected when using online and games.

So-called The risk of interaction

should be reduced and made more transparent for consumers. To achieve this, game systems such as loot boxes and in-game chat will be included in the allocation of age ratings in the future. In addition, the self-control entertainment software is intended to use information symbols to inform consumers more transparently about game mechanics such as loot boxes and chat systems.

As a result, the law aims to protect children and young people from gambling-like mechanics, associated costs and Impairment through gambling addiction

protect. The reform is also intended to reduce the possibility of pedosexuals to establish contact.

How Golem.de reports, experts come to the conclusion that the new legal situation could ensure that otherwise unproblematic games can play Age rating from 18 years receive.

You can see what Europe developers have to say about loot boxes in the video:

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“We don’t swim in money, otherwise we wouldn’t be with Kickstarter” – Europe developers on gaming costs, loot boxes & Co.

What could the reform mean?

Judging by the previous handling of manufacturers with special features in Europe legislation, loot boxes in their current form could disappear in some games from Europey. The example of the legally problematic swastikas in games in this country shows that publishers and developers can be prepared to bring games to the Europe market in an extensively revised manner.

But time will tell whether this will actually happen. Loot boxes have been the focus of legislators around the world for years. Among other things, Bavarian politicians called for stricter regulation as early as 2019.