Do You Support Banning Loot Boxes in Video Games? – Countable

What’s the story?

What are loot boxes?

Many video games allow players to spend actual currency to purchase virtual loot boxes that could contain valuable weapons, armor, or character outfits.
Because the contents of the boxes are randomly generated, players could spend $1 and get an extra-useful item or spend $100 and get something barely useful.
Activision Blizzard – which publishes Candy Crush, Call of Duty, and Hearthstone – generated $4 billion in 2017 from these kinds of in-game transactions.

What are people saying?

“Social media and video games prey on user addiction, siphoning our kids’ attention from the real world and extracting profits from fostering compulsive habits,” Hawley said in a release.

“No matter this business model’s advantages to the tech industry, one thing is clear: There is no excuse for exploiting children through such practices. Game developers who knowingly exploit children should face legal consequences.”

The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) was quick to respond with a statement.

“Numerous countries, including Ireland, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom, determined that loot boxes do not constitute gambling. We look forward to sharing with the senator the tools and information the industry already provides that keeps the control of in-game spending in parents’ hands. Parents already have the ability to limit or prohibit in-game purchases with easy to use parental controls.” (via Kotaku)