It would also do a number on “pay-to-win” games.
The march towards instituting a ban on loot boxes hasn’t exactly been at the forefront of the last couple of months, but that might change soon. Senator Josh Hawley has introduced a bill dubbed the Protecting Children from Abusive Games Act aimed at fighting both the loot box mechanics, as well as play-to-win features in games, specifically those aimed at children. Said Hawley:
Senator Hawley said, “Social media and video games prey on user addiction, siphoning our kids’ attention from the real world and extracting profits from fostering compulsive habits. 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.
“When a game is designed for kids, game developers shouldn’t be allowed to monetize addiction. And when kids play games designed for adults, they should be walled off from compulsive microtransactions. Game developers who knowingly exploit children should face legal consequences.”
Per the bill, the FTC would enforce the rules. State attorneys general would have the ability to sue companies and protect residents of their states.
Needless t say, a lot of the large companies, such as EA, Activision Blizzard, and others have been opposed to such legislation. EA, in particular, has only capitulated to such demands for their games when forced, though they’ve often disclosed odds and shifted such random elements to cosmetics.
The Act isn’t certain to pass both House and Senate, however, or even meet Presidential approval. That said, it could drastically change the landscape for games as they currently stand. Granted, games where loot boxes are tied only to cosmetic items are left in the free by the Act; it’s mostly concerned with the sort that make in-game items that give a definitive edge. But even then, it may have a hand in altering the function of such systems in games.
Source: Engadget
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