<p><span data-contrast="auto">Loot boxes have become a big part of today’s video games. If you’re a keen player of franchises such as </span><i><span data-contrast="auto">FIFA</span></i><span data-contrast="auto">, </span><i><span data-contrast="auto">Counter-Strike,</span></i><span data-contrast="auto"> or </span><i><span data-contrast="auto">Star Wars</span></i><span data-contrast="auto">, then you’ll almost certainly have</span><span data-contrast="auto"> seen one; they offer you virtual items — in exchange for money — that can be used to improve gameplay or set against future in-game expenses.</span><span data-ccp-props="{";201341983";:0,";335559740";:276}"> </span><span data-contrast="auto">The problem is, they attract a lot of controversy. There are fears that they lead to heavy spending among child </span><span data-contrast="auto">players, and has prompted the UK government to attempt to </span><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/games/2020/jun/07/uk-could-class-loot-boxes-as-gambling-to-protect-children"><span data-contrast="auto">reclassify them as gambling products</span></a><span data-contrast="auto">. Some countries, such as The Netherlan</span><span data-contrast="auto">ds and Belgium have even banned the items altogether. </span><span data-ccp-props="{";201341983";:0,";335559740";:276}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">Are they as dangerous as some people believe; or a fun, and necessary, supplement to the video gaming experience? Let’s take a look at both sides of the story.</span><span data-ccp-props="{";201341983";:0,";335559740";:276}"> </span></p>
<h4 style="text-align: center;" aria-level="2">They Enhance Gameplay</h4>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">A common argument</span><span data-contrast="auto"> in </span><span data-contrast="auto">favor</span><span data-contrast="auto"> of loot boxes is that they help to improve the general gameplay experience. </span><span data-contrast="auto">EA uses them in a variety of their titles, such as in </span><a href="https://www.console-deals.com/blog/fifa-20-parents-guide-loot-boxes-11360/"><span data-contrast="auto">FIFA’s Ultimate Tea</span><span data-contrast="auto">m</span></a><span data-contrast="auto">, to offer players extra options as they advance. In exchange for a payment, a loot box can give you a new superstar, or a more advanced game mode, depending on which stage of the game you’re at. </span><span data-contrast="auto">They’re a popular, if sometimes expensive, option among g</span><span data-contrast="auto">amers and the EA vice-president even </span><a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-48701962"><span data-contrast="auto">compared them to ‘Kinder Eggs’</span></a><span data-contrast="auto"> recently, in that the player gets a pleasant surprise whenever they open one.</span><span data-ccp-props="{";201341983";:0,";335559740";:276}"> </span></p>
<p><a href="https://www.casino.org/news/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/FIFA-Loot-Boxes.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-large" src="https://www.casino.org/news/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/FIFA-Loot-Boxes.jpg" width="1600" height="900" /></a><span data-contrast="auto">Conversely, the company’s Star Wars Battlefron</span><span data-contrast="auto">t II drew criticism for introducing a multi-leveled game, where the players who paid the most experienced a better version of the game. The company later </span><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/star-wars-battlefront-2-drops-loot-boxes-2018-3?IR=T"><span data-contrast="auto">scrapped the boxes</span></a><span data-contrast="auto">, probably fearing that the controversy might lead to a decline in sales.</span><span data-ccp-props="{";201341983";:0,";335559740";:276}"> </span><span data-contrast="auto">Of course, the counter-argument to the point about improved gameplay is that these options should be included in the game’s price, or, at least without the element of ‘the more money you spend, the more likely you are to win’.</span><span data-ccp-props="{";201341983";:0,";335559740";:276}"> </span><span data-contrast="auto">Epic Games, for instance, de</span><span data-contrast="auto">cided to remove loot boxes from its games, with its main </span><span data-contrast="auto">Fortnite</span><span data-contrast="auto"> titles instead earning money through Battle Passes and in-game microtransactions, which don’t have the gambling element of loot boxes and don’t discriminate against players who pay less.</span><span data-ccp-props="{";201341983";:0,";335559740";:276}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">I</span><span data-contrast="auto">t might signal the start of a trend against the items, where game developers look for other ways to generate income, such as raising game prices.</span><span data-ccp-props="{";201341983";:0,";335559740";:276}"> </span></p>
<h4 style="text-align: center;" aria-level="2">They’re an Important Source of Income for Games Developers</h4>
<p>Loot boxes may not be cheap, but many argue that their financial contribution to the games industry is essential. Games are expensive to create and maintain, and without the steady income stream from loot boxes, their overall quality may suffer. This revenue helps support the large teams of developers, designers, and support staff necessary to produce and sustain engaging gameplay experiences. Much like the revenue model that sustains some of the <a href="https://safestcasinosites.co.uk/">best online casinos</a>, where ongoing investments ensure smooth operation, appealing interfaces, and player incentives, loot boxes provide the funding that allows game developers, especially smaller studios, to keep up with the high production costs. However, some still argue that games already come with a hefty price tag, making the extra cost of loot boxes a point of contention for many players.</p>
<p><a href="https://media.altchar.com/prod/images/940_530/gm-c2c85217-d495-4783-b4d4-d64d21dc5972-division2lootbox.jpeg"><img class="aligncenter size-large" src="https://media.altchar.com/prod/images/940_530/gm-c2c85217-d495-4783-b4d4-d64d21dc5972-division2lootbox.jpeg" width="940" height="530" /></a><span data-contrast="auto">FIFA 20, for example, costs between $62-$100 upon its release, depending on the edition you bought, with Call of Duty: Modern Warfa</span><span data-contrast="auto">re 2 costing a similar amount. With the digital games market expected to </span><a href="https://www.juniperresearch.com/press/press-releases/loot-boxes-in-game-spend-drive-digital-games?utm_source=juniperpr&;utm_campaign=futuregamesmarket18pr1&;utm_medium=email"><span data-contrast="auto">surpass the $160 billion mark by 2022</span></a><span data-contrast="auto">, do game developers really need all this extra money from their fans?</span><span data-ccp-props="{";201341983";:0,";335559740";:276}"> </span><span data-contrast="auto">The answer, of course, comes down to the consumer. If they feel that the loot boxes are worth it, then they’ll pay the money to both suppor</span><span data-contrast="auto">t the developer and improve the gameplay. It all depends on who exactly that consumer is.</span><span data-ccp-props="{";201341983";:0,";335559740";:276}"> </span></p>
<h4 style="text-align: center;" aria-level="2">They Could Soon be Illegal in Several Countries</h4>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">T</span><span data-contrast="auto">he debate over whether loot boxes improve gameplay or provide vital funding to developers could soon become irrelev</span><span data-contrast="auto">ant anyway: some countries already ban them, and many more could follow suit.</span><span data-ccp-props="{";201341983";:0,";335559740";:276}"> </span><span data-contrast="auto">Their simple definition as a random chance of gaining perks in exchange for funds means they automatically fall foul of strict gambling laws in Asian countries such as China, Ja</span><span data-contrast="auto">pan, and South Korea. </span><span data-contrast="auto">In Europe, Holland, and Belgium lead the way by </span><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-49674333"><span data-contrast="auto">banning the use of the items</span></a><span data-contrast="auto"> and have tried to spread the legislation to other European countries.</span><span data-ccp-props="{";201341983";:0,";335559740";:276}"> </span></p>
<p><a href="https://cdn1.dotesports.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/09001907/OWlootbox-ed.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-large" src="https://cdn1.dotesports.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/09001907/OWlootbox-ed.jpg" width="1446" height="892" /></a><span data-contrast="auto">The UK’s investigation</span><span data-contrast="auto"> into the boxes comes following calls from several government ministers saying that they can lead to </span><a href="https://casino.guru/problem-gambling-diagnosis"><span data-contrast="auto">problem </span><span data-contrast="auto">gamb</span><span data-contrast="auto">ling</span></a> <span data-contrast="auto">behavior</span><span data-contrast="auto"> in children. </span><span data-contrast="auto">Campaigners, such as Children’s Commissioner Anne Longfield says that children feel compelled to spend money to complete the game and can often spend ‘hundreds of pounds c</span><span data-contrast="auto">hasing their losses’ in order to do so. </span><span data-contrast="auto">If the campaigners in these countries get their way, then classifying loot boxes as gambling products already puts them out of the reach of children and threatens their status as legitimate gaming tools. It would </span><span data-contrast="auto">be a black mark against the loot box name, and another argument against using them in games. </span><span data-ccp-props="{";201341983";:0,";335559740";:276}"> </span></p>
<h4 style="text-align: center;" aria-level="2">So, are Loot Boxes a Fun Gaming Element or a Menace to Society?</h4>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">Like many things in life, the truth probably lies somewhere in between. The concerns over their effect on children are justified: kids shouldn’t be thinking about money while they play their </span><span data-contrast="auto">favorite</span><span data-contrast="auto"> titles ― just having fun. </span><span data-contrast="auto">For this reason, reclassify</span><span data-contrast="auto">ing them as gambling products, and lessening their importance to games overall, seems to be a fair measure. Adult gamers still have the option of buying them if they want to, but they won’t be </span><span data-contrast="auto">penalized</span><span data-contrast="auto"> if they decide against it. Seeking a compromise on th</span><span data-contrast="auto">is issue seems to be the way forward.</span><span data-ccp-props="{";201341983";:0,";335559740";:276}"> </span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>This article contains sponsored links.</em></p>

The Big Debate about Loot Boxes: Are They Good or Bad?
-
By Chris Newton
- Categories: Opinion
- Tags: Call of DutyFIFAGamblingLoot boxesMicrotransactionsOverwatchSD
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