Under fire for the use of loot boxes in video games, a vice president of EA Games has told members of the British Parliament that the company believes the boxes are no different than Kinder Eggs or other products that give surprise toys. EA produces two games—FIFA and Star Wars Battlefront—that have been criticized for the use of loot boxes. Many regulators have called them a form of gambling.
“We do think the way that we have implemented these kinds of mechanics—and FIFA of course is our big one, our FIFA Ultimate Team and our packs—is actually quite ethical and quite fun, quite enjoyable to people,” Kerry said. “Loot boxes are much more than throwaway toys.”
Loot boxes allow gamers to buy unidentified items of use in video games such as equipment and weapons. Since gamers pay for the boxes and they contain items of varying value within the game, many experts and some regulatory agencies have likened them to use gambling.
EA’s game Star Wars Battlefront II, released in 2017, was especially criticized by gamers because players could find powerful items or characters in loot boxes they paid for, rather than earning them through game play. In early 2018, EA removed certain items from loot boxes in response.
Some regulators, including in Belgium, have made the use of loot boxes in video games illegal in their countries. The UK Gambling Commission, however, found that loot boxes are not gambling as long as the items can be found through regular game play.
“We do agree with the UK Gambling Commission, the Australian Gambling Commission and many other gambling commissions that they aren’t gambling, and we also disagree that there’s evidence that shows it leads to gambling,” Kerry said during questions from MPs. “Instead we think it’s like many other products that people enjoy in a healthy way, and like the element of surprise.”
