Blizzard unaffected, because you’re buying those boxes anyway.
Apparently, Reddit’s /r/gaming board has found out about a new patent by Activision. Specifically, one that rewards the purchase of in-game weapons and items with favorable matchaking. Here’s how it works, according to the patent filing’s helpful flowchart:
Notably, the system rewards players who buy the item they were impressed with by dropping them into a favorable math for that item. Which presumably means that this method isn’t terribly effective for cosmetics, which don’t offer any tangible in-game benefit (you could apply the matchmaking to loot boxes, though). It is, still, very manipulative, and has more than a few up in arms.
Combine this mess with the whole loot box discussion going on, however, and it gets worse. Activision hasn’t said anything in regards to the response to their patent, yet. Considering this is something of a hot button issue, they might want to get on that, and soon.
You can check out our video on the matter below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSUXDs02ha0