EA removed a FIFA microtransaction ad that was aimed at kids

EA has pulled an ad that marketed FIFA microtransactions to kids in UK toy store Smyths’ magazine. The ad suggested children “use FIFA Points to open packs,” through which they receive a random selection of players in the Ultimate Team (FUT) mode. FI...

‘Rocket League’ is ditching randomized loot crates

Game publishers will soon have to disclose the likelihood of players claiming rare items in loot boxes in their console games, following an agreement between many of them, Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo. Psyonix had already revealed the odds of Rocket...

Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo agree to disclose loot box odds

Loot boxes have been a source of controversy in recent years. They offer gamers a way to snag virtual items, but because the rewards are typically randomized and players can buy them with real money, they've been called as a form of gambling. Some ju...

The FTC will hold a public workshop on loot boxes in August

The Federal Trade Commission pledged in November to investigate loot boxes, and it's set out the timeline for the first steps in the process. It will hold a public workshop on August 7th to look into consumer protection issues linked with them.

EA stops selling ‘FIFA’ currency in Belgium due to loot box law

When Belgium declared that loot boxes were illegal and amounted to gambling, EA didn't react well -- it not only defended the practice, it refused to honor the law and insisted its practice was legal. Authorities saw things differently, however, and...

‘Fortnite’ eliminates blind loot boxes in its PvE mode

Epic Games has kept paid blind loot boxes out of Fortnite's signature battle royale mode, but now it's clearing them out of the cooperative Save the World mode, too. As of the 7.30 update, Epic has ditched V-Buck Llamas in favor of X-Ray Llamas that...

Federal Trade Commission agrees to investigate loot boxes

The Federal Trade Commission has agreed to investigate loot boxes in games, along with their impact on kids. The agency's commissioners committed to the probe after Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) raised the issue at a Senate Commerce, Science, and Tran...

US and European gambling regulators may crack down on loot boxes

Gambling regulators from Europe and the US are turning up the heat on game developers over loot boxes, which some jurisdictions claim violate gambling laws. A group of 15 European agencies and the Washington State Gambling Commission agreed to work t...