Federal Trade Commission Will Investigate Loot Boxes In The US

[AlainLocke]

Federal Trade Commission Plans to Investigate Loot Boxes | Digital Trends

Loot boxes have been the subject of controversy over the last few years, with games like Star Wars: Battlefront II coming under particularly heavy scrutiny for including gambling-like mechanics in competitive multiplayer. Countries in Europe, including Belgium, have already taken steps to combat loot boxes, and it appears the United States Federal Trade Commission will now follow suit.


During a U.S. Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation subcommittee hearing on Tuesday, Sen. Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire asked FTC commissioners about “additional oversight” regarding loot boxes and how they can appeal to children.

“Loot boxes are now endemic in the video game industry and are present in everything from casual smartphone games to the newest, high-budget video game releases,” Hassan said. “Loot boxes will represent a $50 billion industry by the year 2022, according to the latest research estimates.

 

[levitate]

Not familiar with this... You pay to get a set of digital items that are randomly generated?

 

[ORDER_66]

nothing is gonna happen to any of these companies they already gave them the bag...

 

[Liquid]

50 billion in about 3 years? That's ridiculous

 

[winb83]

it needed to happen

 

[Norrin Radd]

I wish they were done away with but yeah I have a hard time believing anything will come from this.

Not familiar with this... You pay to get a set of digital items that are randomly generated?

Basically. People have been arguing that it influences kids to gamble.

 

[Mantis Toboggan M.D.]

I wish they were done away with but yeah I have a hard time believing anything will come from this.

Basically. People have been arguing that it influences kids to gamble.

It’s gambling in and of itself

 

[Rigby.]

Jim Sterling might take W OTY if anything happens