US anti-lootbox bill formally introduced, begins to gain political traction

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While heated debates over the lawfulness of pay-to-win microtransactions and lootboxes continue, a United States Senator has taken the first step to introduce his bill to the Senate. Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) hopes to make changes to the current landscape of gaming by regulating certain microtransactions and sales of lootboxes in video games. The bill, which has two supporters--Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) and Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)--intends to outlaw physical and digital games that are both targeted to minors and allow the use of elements that could be considered similar to gambling.

In regards to his proposed law, which is titled The Protecting Children from Abusive Games Act, Hawley commented the following:

Only the addiction economy could produce a business model that relies on placing a casino in the hands of every child in America with the goal of getting them desperately hooked. I’m proud to introduce this landmark, bipartisan legislation to end these exploitative practices.

The full document, which is available for the public to read, clearly defines what is and isn't a predatory lootbox; anything cosmetic is entirely fine, but if the contents within a lootbox contain advantages for a player that would put them ahead of those who do not pay extra, then they are considered unlawful. Additionally, paying money for "cheats" or the ability to not have to wait for things to unlock would also be illegal. Should a publisher make use of such practices, they would be fined, as well as the online storefront. So, if EA theoretically included a pay-to-win microtransaction for a console game on Xbox One and PlayStation 4, Sony, Microsoft, and Electronic Arts would be held liable. Or, if Ubisoft let players buy items that would let them skip segments of a game, and it was on PC, then both Steam/Epic and Ubisoft would be charged; the latter for adding it, and the former for allowing it to be sold. One-time purchase DLC that offers extra story, levels, or non-competitive items would be unaffected, like cosmetics.

This bill faces political opposition, and is a long way from being anywhere close to approved, but it could be the first step for the United States government to ban titles with microtransactions, which could result in a similar outcome like with what happened in Belgium. The next process for The Protecting Children from Abusive Games Act would be for it to go before a committee, where it can then be debated upon by other senators.

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Kioku

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Wow guys scared of developers making money? Are you telling me that businesses should not be allowed to try and make the most money possible? Baba.
It's like you don't see the issue, or something... Hmmmm.... Microtransactions aren't the problem. Randomized loot boxes are a form of gambling. This bill aims to push them off as such. Don't like it? That's cool. This goes deeper than you.
 

Franciscop98

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I wonder if right-leaning people will argue against this bill just because dems support it or if they will support it in spite of political differences
I'm not American, but as I take it in, it's left leaning people who oppose whatever the right agrees with (I.E, reps defend free speech, so suddenly the left starts censoring, even though it was the other way around for over a century)

On another note, I wonder how this will affect mobile games and specially those directed at young adults or classified as 13+. For example, I actually like Dragon Ball Legends's economic system. Yes, I never got my SSJ Broly or the Movie Gogeta, but "gambling" for characters make them feel like collectible cards, and the fact that some of the character portaraits have animations makes them feel like like chromed, special cards. It reminds me of world cup albums in a way. It's exciting to get a character you wanted for weeks on that one lucky pull, and gives purpose to coming back and playing, as you get free currency to get more and more characters.

In a sense, those kinds of games are not all doom and gloom. If the game is free, it's a challenge to try and be good without paying, and if you pay you tend to get a more traditional experience.

I do agree AAA games with MTX are straight up wrong and damaging, doesn't matter if they're cosmetic. Mortal Kombat X and Battlefront obviously come to mind, but even CoD has got lootboxes, and if I'm already paying full price for the game, I should get a full experience without any extras. That's like paying to get into a lottery center, and then paying for participating in the lottery itself.

I got on a tangent there XD, the point is, I hope mobile games can keep this model as long as it's not abused, and it's mostly regulated at children, not young adults.
 

SG854

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I don’t see how this is to protect the kids. Don’t you need some type of card to buy lootboxes, debit card, credit card. Throwing physical cash money at your PlayStation doesn’t work. You can’t even get a card till your 18. And if your younger you have to get it under your parents so they can monitor your activity, so what the hell are the parents doing letting their kids run wild.

Unless the kids are buying a bunch of 100$ PSN cards, but how much income are they making a week that it turns into a gambling addiction if they can’t even legally work. Little 8 Yr Timmy is a hard core gambling addict. His family is in shambles because of his hardcore gambling addiction.


https://www.keystonetreatment.com/co-occurring/gambling-disorder/problem-starts-young/

This is ridiculous. This says gambling addiction starts young, making a friendly wager on a Sports Team, or letting them scratch a lotto ticket then they become addicted. Don’t video games have elements like this everywhere. I bet you a million dollars you can’t beat me. So ban video games.
 
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KingVamp

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If people don't like loot boxes, they have the option to not play the games that feature them, or just not buying the loot boxes. Clearly they do like them, since it's a profitable mechanic, so gamers are simply being hypocrites.
Just because it is profitable and some people like it, doesn't mean it is a good thing. Also, not all gamers like lootboxes. lol If they don't like lootboxes, all they see is this thing spreading and getting worse no matter what they do.


By restricting alternative revenue streams like this the government effectively makes game design harder, especially in the F2P sector and especially for small, independent developers. This isn't going to affect Activision nearly as much as people think it will - they have the capital to sink half a billion dollars into a game like Destiny. However, this *is* going to affect smaller developers who release F2P titles in hopes to gain traction and make up for the costs of development over time via insignificant cosmetics.
While this is true, as others pointed out, indies and companies in general have been successful without lootboxes. "insignificant", that's why even big companies are locking them behind boxes.

This bill doesn't target cosmetics.

Don't get me wrong, I'm mostly in the cosmetic lootboxes are fine camp. In fact, I've even seen non-cosmetic lootboxes done fairly. Still, I'm not sure if I'll ultimately care if they disappear.
 

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I dislike government intervention, but EA knew what they were doing when they fucked up Battlefront. Their fault, and now everyone has to pay for it.

I seriously hope this cripples them.
 

Skelletonike

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let them make $ by making actual good games instead of crappy gamemaker pixel, weeb trash FAP games filled with loot boxes and micro$ GARBAGE

Not all the games are garbage.
You have too much anger, just let it go.

i'll repeat what i said earlier for QFT

Quoting yourself is just sad. I think everyone understood when they read your comment for the first time.

You don't like those games, that's your choice. Others like them, it's their choice.
 
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Pluupy

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If this law passes, say goodbye to gacha.

First Belgium loses Fire Emblem Heroes, then USA. Goodbye my beloved +10 Sheena.
 

DANTENDO

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Not that I buy lootboxes, but what about the people that enjoy that? Why not just boycott?
You can't be serious :lol: anything tht can upgrade Yr equipment stats etc in a game should be rewarded in the game for doing missios etc - lootboxes most ridiculous thing I've seen in gaming
 

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Bottom line is, it starts when you feel that rush you get when you win, get that special weapon or character, that rush you feel is your brain releasing Dopamine.

Yeah well, we all know Dopamine is there to make you repeat rewarding tasks, that's why it's called the reward chemical, it sets up strong reward pathways in the brain, and it's true that the younger you are, the less reward pathways are set up and so when this strong rush is compared to other rushes from achievements (or lack thereof), they become more predominant as tasks that make you feel good.

Addiction in a nutshell.


I spent a lot of money when I used to play Happy Wars, buying those lootboxes.
 
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