Why is loot popular?

Loot has received a lot of hype due to its innovative nature. While it doesn't add any new features or utility, this is what has actually made it so popular. The freedom to use Loot as you wish makes it incredibly versatile.

Why are loot boxes like gambling?

Loot boxes are items within computer games which are accessed either through game play or are purchased with in-game virtual currencies or with real-world money. Loot boxes are usually randomised rewards; therefore, users do not know what is in the loot box before opening it.

When did loot boxes become popular?

Loot box concepts originated from loot systems in massively multiplayer online role-playing games, and from the monetization of free-to-play mobile gaming. They first appeared in 2004 through 2007, and have appeared in many free-to-play games and in some full-priced titles since then.

Why do people use loot boxes?

Loot boxes aim to provide balance to games. By providing content at random, they allow players to unlock the best items even if they don't spend the most money. Loot boxes can also reveal in-game items that players hadn't considered using - helping them change tactics or strategies in the process.

How addictive are loot boxes?

The Association of Police and Crime Commissioners Joint Addictions and Substance Misuse Lead said that certain in app gaming features known as 'loot boxes' could instill unhealthy behaviours and pre-expose children and young people to developing addictive gambling-like tendencies later in life.

POP SMOKE - LOOT (Music Video) [prod.alpha]

Are loot boxes illegal in the US?

Are Loot Boxes Legal? Today, with a few exceptions, most forms of loot boxes remain legal and unregulated worldwide. However, proponents of loot box regulation argue that the chance and rarity mechanics make loot boxes akin to gambling and constitute predatory practices toward minors.

Are loot boxes just gaming or gambling?

In almost all senses of the word, loot boxes are a form of online gambling. Their addictive nature and just-one-more effect entice gamers into spending their hard-earned money, in-game or otherwise, on an item that may or may not contain something of value.

Why were loot boxes banned?

The motion claims that the monetisation scheme is predatory for gamers, particularly young children. It reads: “children in video games are manipulated to purchase micro transactions and that with so-called loot boxes there is also a form of gambling.”

What are the cons of loot boxes?

Mounting research, such as that done by the universities of Plymouth and Wolverhampton, indicates that loot boxes are linked to problem gambling, and are “structurally and psychologically akin to gambling.” Of 13 studies into the behavior of gamers who spend on loot boxes, 12 showed a clear correlation between the use ...

Where are loot boxes banned?

As of today, the only European jurisdiction where loot boxes are explicitly banned is Belgium, where the Gambling Commission declared loot boxes to be "in violation of gambling legislation" back in 2018, although a recent study showed that the Belgian regulator is struggling with enforcing the ban.

Are loot boxes good or bad?

In-game purchases such as loot boxes cause financial and emotional harm to children and young people. Children find it difficult to track their spending in-games and fail to understand the value of money, leading to poor spending decisions.

What replaced loot boxes?

Blizzard formally announced that loot boxes were going away in June, replacing them with a battle pass and in-game store.

Is loot box still a thing?

While under Chapter 11 bankruptcy, it planned to continue to fulfill orders but seeks potential buyers. On October 1, 2019, subscribers were informed by email of Loot Crate's sale to Money Chest LLC., majority funded by NECA. The company now operates under a new name: The Loot Company.

What popularized loot boxes?

Loot boxes were popularised through their inclusion in several games throughout the mid-2010s. By the later half of the decade, some games, particularly Star Wars Battlefront II, expanded approaches to the concept that caused them to become highly criticised.

What percentage of gamers buy loot boxes?

Buy loot boxes: 44.2% of gamers (66.54% bought daily, 26.84% once a week). 66.1% of gamblers.

When did loot boxes become illegal?

Back in 2018, Belgium become one of the first countries to rule that loot boxes are a form of gambling. Due to this, they were automatically banned from video games.

Are loot crates legal?

Companies must possess a licence before offering gambling services; however, video game loot boxes are not a product that can be duly licensed within the existing regulatory framework.

What game started the loot box trend?

Researchers trace the first loot boxes back to the Chinese free-to-play MMO ZT Online, released in 2006, where players opened virtual treasure chests. This formula mutated through various mobile games until it reached core franchises: in 2010, Valve incorporated them in Team Fortress 2.

Why are loot boxes bad for kids?

Parents know children spend money buying video games, but it is some less-visible in-game purchases that could be worrisome later on, experts say. Research has suggested that loot boxes — virtual “treasure chests” with potential prizes inside some video games — may have ties to gambling addictions.

What countries don t allow loot boxes in video games?

Loot boxes are grab bags of in-game content purchased via a specific in-game currency that typically requires real-world money. Both Belgium and the Netherlands passed laws outlawing these forms of gambling in 2018.

Are loot boxes like slot machines?

Loot boxes are mechanics often found in video games that provide the player with randomized virtual rewards. Some loot boxes can be paid for with real-world money and therefore share structural and psychological similarities with gambling.

Are loot boxes pay to win?

Spending money in order to obtain an advantage over other players is often referred to as the pay-to-win mechanic [25]. However, loot boxes can also be acquired through effort, rather than microtransactions alone [10].

Is Europe banning loot boxes?

Regulation of Loot Boxes in the EU

As mentioned above, aside from EU consumer protection laws, loot boxes are not subject to any specific EU harmonized legislation (as is the case for gambling activities).

Are loot boxes unethical?

Random rewards (both cosmetic and functional) such as loot boxes are ethically problematic, particularly if the player does not know how likely the possible rewards are. In this case, it is essentially impossible for the player to evaluate whether the purchase is worth it.

Are loot boxes banned in China?

Loot Box Restrictions

Chinese law is particularly strict and detailed on loot boxes, as they are seen as a form of gambling: Loot boxes cannot be purchased using either real or virtual currency. Loot box contents must also be acquirable through other means. Compulsion loops are not allowed.