European consumer groups are calling for a ban on loot boxes. A collective action supporting a report published by the Norwegian Consumer Council.
We don’t know if loot boxes will disappear one day or not, but in any case, more and more people are protesting against this process. In Europe, consumers want to get involved in this fight.
A ban on loot boxes in Europe?
“Loot boxes are taboo, we will overcome them all”. It could be the slogan of 20 consumer groups from 18 different European countries launching a joint action to legislate on loot boxes. Consumers who come from France, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Germany, Latvia, Bulgaria, Poland, Portugal, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, Denmark, Europe or the Netherlands. It’s surprising for the latter because, like Belgium, the ban is already there and Diablo Immortal has even been banned from those areas.
A fight alongside Norway
If the coordinated action can carry more weight, this also happens after a Report of the Norwegian Consumer Council. This report «How the gaming industry exploits consumers with loot boxes» denounces the way in which users can be exploited with malicious mechanisms.
We have proven that in our work The sale and presentation of loot boxes often involves the exploitation of consumers through predatory mechanisms, through the promotion of addiction, through the targeting of vulnerable consumer groups etc Although it is a large industry, The video game industry has largely escaped regulatory scrutiny. Business models are technically complex or new. Many authorities consider video games to be a niche entertainment market.
Finn Myrstad, Director of Digital Services at the Norwegian Consumer Council
For the Norwegian Council, we are far from a so-called niche market and that is why they are calling for things to change drastically.
Due to the size of the market and the number of consumers affected, national and European authorities must prioritize investigations and regulatory intervention. We call for a range of measures such as a ban on deceptive designs, additional protections for minors and transparency at the transaction level.
Create the need, establish the fear of lack
In the report, the Norwegian Council discusses how loot boxes are driving purchases, starting with deadlines for acquiring loot boxes, with the aim of raising fears of missing out on a crucial item and suggesting these boxes as “essential to the win games. The far too random side is obviously mentioned in the study. But also the problem of getting a virtual currency for real money without actually being able to know what you are spending.
Two games are also cited to illustrate these remarks, FIFA 22 and Raid Shadow Legends.
Both games use a wide arsenal of tricks to trick consumers into investing as much time and money as possible, and take advantage of consumers hoping to get the coveted reward despite a slim chance and probability.
Banned in Europe… but not in France
In view of the statements made by the Norwegian Council, if European countries reacted, it would look more like a ban on only allowing “classic” microtransactions such as a Fortnite Batman skin for “3 dollars”. Because emptying the loot boxes of their “substance” would actually no longer be of great interest to users.
As mentioned above, Belgium and the Netherlands have already come out in favor of a total ban. And in France, where are we? Jérôme Durain, Senator from Saône-et-Loire, had questioned the president of the National Games Authority in the middle of the Star Wars Battlefront 2 dispute in 2017. Since then not a word.
Do you think it’s time to do something about loot boxes? Better monitor or remove altogether? Have you ever spent a few dollars or even large sums on loot boxes? Tell us everything Comments.
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