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Epic Games will uphold transparency in the loot box systems in its games, as disclosed in a statement to GamesIndustry.biz today.
Earlier this week, the Entertainment Software Association released an official statement that Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony will implement policies requiring new games released on their platforms, ‘to disclose information on the relative rarity or probability of obtaining randomized virtual items.’ Loot box drop rates must be shown clearly and be easily accessible, and the requirement will apply to any post-launch updates that introduce the feature.
The policy will take effect in 2020, and publishers including Activision Blizzard, Bandai Namco, Bethesda, Bungie, Electronic Arts, Microsoft, Nintendo, Sony, Take-Two, Ubisoft, Warner Bros, and Wizards of the Coast have all agreed to the initiative as well. Evidently, Epic Games was not counted among these, but today it affirmed that the company will follow suit.
‘Earlier this year, the Fortnite Save the World team made a change that showed players every item that they would get in a paid llama before opening it. Earlier this week, the team at Psyonix announced a similar change coming later this year to paid crates in Rocket League. Going forward, we're committed to the same transparency for player purchases in all Epic Games titles,’ Epic Games explained in the statement to GamesIndustry.biz.
THQ Nordic is another ESA member that is not visible in the list of companies adhering to the pledge. On its official Twitter account, it stated today that the ESA did not reach out for a response as none of their published games possess loot box mechanics. It added that the publisher has no plans to implement ‘casino-styled mechanics’ in its existing or upcoming titles.
THQ Nordic GmbH and THQ Nordic Inc. have not made a commitment on loot box odds disclosure, because a.) we have not been asked by @ESAGovAffairs for a statement ahead of their publication, b.) we currently do not have a single game with lootbox mechanics published, […]
— THQ Nordic gamescom (@THQNordic) August 8, 2019
Quite a sensible move, considering the controversy that randomised in-game purchases have conjured up. Not everyone is of the same mind, however. The UK Gambling Commission decided that loot boxes are not a form of gambling but pose ‘significant concerns’. EA’s vice president of legal and government affairs agreed, instead referring to loot boxes as ‘surprise mechanics’. As mentioned, Rocket League has taken all the ‘surprise’ out of it, and purchases made in-game will show exactly what will be unlocked before the sale is finalised; Sea of Thieves will adhere to a similar system for optional cosmetics.
