Upcoming games will soon feature a label on the back of their boxes, thanks to a new measure that the ESRB has introduced. It's an "interactive element", or put simply, a note under the familiar E, E10+, T, and M label ratings that show whether or not a game has loot boxes that can be purchased with real-world money. This umbrella term of "in-game purchases (includes random items)" covers games with loot boxes that have randomized content drops, gacha games, video games that offer randomized card packs, and other similar elements. This is the second time the ESRB has added a label to game boxes to help better inform consumers, with the first instance being in 2018 where the original "in-game purchases" warning was added, for games that have any extras such as DLC for purchase.

Why Not Say “Loot Boxes”?
“Loot box” is a term that doesn’t encompass all types of randomized in-game purchase mechanics. We want to ensure that the new label covers all transactions with randomized elements. In-Game Purchases (Includes Random Items) accounts for loot boxes and all similar mechanics that offer random items in exchange for real-world currency or in-game currency that can be purchased with real money.

Moreover, we want to avoid confusing consumers who may not be familiar with what a loot box is. Recent research shows that less than a third of parents have both heard of a loot box and know what it is. “Loot box” is a widely understood phrase in and around the video game industry and among dedicated gamers, but most people less familiar with games do not understand it. While this new label is primarily in response to feedback from game enthusiasts, it is still essential that all consumers, especially parents, have a clear understanding of the rating information we provide.

Source

 

[DANTENDO]

In my opinion, there should only be 3 ratings: T, M, and AO. People under 13 should not play video games at all-especially with the nature of recent so-called "games".
Disclaimer: I am 22 and am not a parent.

So a kid can't experience mario or sonic bloody hel yr a misery

 

[BORTZ]

I feel like that's a real understatement. I understand why they aren't calling it "Gambling" but the way they put it is way too passive.

 

[DinohScene]

As if anyone ever read those labels ;')

 

[raxadian]

Or they will pull a crash team racing and add microtransactions well after launch

You must mean the remake, Crash Team Racing: Nitro-Fueled, the original was a Playstation game and due to the Playstation not having enough space in the memory cards and lack of online capabilities it was freaking impossible to have microtranssactions.

 

[Uiaad]

You must mean the remake, Crash Team Racing: Nitro-Fueled, the original was a Playstation game and due to the Playstation not having enough space in the memory cards and lack of online capabilities it was freaking impossible to have microtranssactions.

Oh fuck off mate, every one knew what I meant. That post was done at 3 in the morning when I was in a lot of pain so please see my signature and go do one

 

[Xalusc]

Those should've been banned entirely, but...

 

[Captain_N]

Soon they are gonna have to add "This game does not work without an internet connection". Just for you xbox

 

[raxadian]

Soon they are gonna have to add "This game does not work without an internet connection". Just for you xbox

Don't most games with online content have a "This game requires an Internet connection" somewhere in the box?

 

[jeffyTheHomebrewer]

So it won't be on A-rated games? or

Well, why would a porn game (or hyper gorey kill kill game) need loot boxes?

 

[banjo2]

Well, why would a porn game (or hyper gorey kill kill game) need loot boxes?

J̶u̶s̶t̶ ̶y̶o̶u̶ ̶w̶a̶i̶t̶ fair point

 

[medoli900]

Shouldn't even be teen because that way everybody of the age of 13 is mature enough to start using credit cards. This is just stupid and once more in favor of big scamming companies. It's quite clear they can't regulate themselves by deciding you're okay to use credit cards etc for lootboxes ar the age of 13.

Laws in NA prohibit gambling in games if the user is less than 13 years old. The ESRB is just complying to those laws, it has nothing to do with "favor[ing] big scamming companies".

 

[Nucatini]

They should include a warning on how spending too much money on loot boxes will cause your bank account go down.

 

[FAST6191]

They should include a warning on how spending too much money on loot boxes will cause your bank account go down.

But there is a possibility you will win and make more than you put in.

 

[kumikochan]

Laws in NA prohibit gambling in games if the user is less than 13 years old. The ESRB is just complying to those laws, it has nothing to do with "favor[ing] big scamming companies".

The ESRB is a group set up by members of gaming companies for the sake of self regulating and you're telling me they don't favor gaming companies ? Hmm gonna be a bit hard if all your employees come from said gaming companies seeing the ESRB is made for the sake of self regulating. "SELF regulating

 

[ShadowFlash]

^That, ESRB was formed by those companies. Of course they will be whitewashing ingame casinoes.

You must mean the remake, Crash Team Racing: Nitro-Fueled, the original was a Playstation game and due to the Playstation not having enough space in the memory cards and lack of online capabilities it was freaking impossible to have microtranssactions.

Do you realize that even cosmetic microtransactions weren't a thing when most countries got at least 10Mbit/s up/down unlimited internet in every city? And lootboxes in full price AAA games weren't a thing till mid 2010s? OG Xbox had HDD but no paid lootboxes.

The whole shit started with mobile games, then infected MMOs then went to full on paid games. Also microtransactions aren't equal to lootboxes. You may like or hate Capcom but i have no problems with developing characters for a fighting game and releasing them later as microtransaction. Unlike SFxTK on-disc DLC there's nothing wrong with that. Even as stupid DoA costume DLC fever is it's nothing compared to gambling in the game, I wouldn't mind even if they had 9000000000000 costume DLCs for 30 trillion bucks... if they cared about main game content enough and didn't release pretty much unfinished straight arcade port with minimal configuration options and crappy netplay, never fixing some major bugs. Then repeating the same with DoA6 doing only a little better with netplay.

Also a few f2p games survive for more than 10 years without any paywalls or lootboxes, just by selling cosmetic items. And that's f2p. You can enjoy full game minus fancy costumes for free. There's no excuse for lootboxes or day one story mode DLCs. And any kind of lootboxes that require spending real money should be banned everywhere, even from f2p games. Just sell the stuff, no gambling.

 

[FAST6191]

I am still lost at why people were so upset about on disc DLC.

As for "started with mobile". No it started in the arcades; they have just been trying to get back there ever since.

 

[TastifulBurger]

Should've added a +L thingy instead.

How about coins?

Don't most games with online content have a "This game requires an Internet connection" somewhere in the box?

They are usually on the back of the cover, with some PS4 titles being specific in network usage being optional or required.