EA has defended the use of FIFA loot boxes, which describe the ability to spend real money on them as “reasonable”. The company says that the FIFA Ultimate Team mode and player packs are a beloved part of FIFA and that spending real money on them is “completely optional.”
What has EA said about it? FIFA loot boxes?
In a statement to Eurogamer, EA confirmed it would stick to the FIFA Ultimate Team mode in FIFA 23, as well as FUT packs, which are essentially the game version of loot boxes. An EA spokesperson says the studio “believes wholeheartedly”[s]that both the Ultimate Team mode and the loot boxes you can purchase in it are “a part of” FIFA that players love” because they reflect the excitement and strategy of creating your own squad. The spokesperson went on to say it’s “reasonable” to give players the option to spend real money on loot boxes.
According to EA, spending real money on loot boxes is “completely optional” and the company doesn’t encourage real spending over earning in-game rewards (although leaked documents from last year could differ on that). EA also carries out the old rule that most players don’t spend on loot boxes, as well as the rather odd defense that loot boxes work the same whether you earn them in-game or pay for them. There is no mention of how hard it is to earn loot boxes instead of paying real money for them, nor is there any mention of the ethic of essentially putting young gamers in debt, but since much of EA’s loot revenue boxes come is that is expected.
EA has been repeatedly criticized for using loot boxes
EA probably has a certain bee in the hood when it comes to loot boxes. Last year, the company implemented the ability to view certain loot boxes in FIFA 22 after being severely punished by countries like the Netherlands, Canada and South Korea for using it. Despite this, it looks like the company won’t be going back to loot boxes. The following FIFA 23 will still feature Ultimate Team mode and you’ll still be able to buy loot boxes for real money it seems, so we’ll probably have this discussion all over again when FIFA 23 drops in September.
Of course, it’s not just EA that is under fire for including loot boxes in its games. A UK report (which the government chose not to act) last year made a “robust” link between loot boxes and gambling, and games like Clash Royale have even been the subject of lawsuits for their loot boxes. It is this controversy surrounding the monetization of loot boxes that has led Germany to include loot boxes in its games rating system and Australia to propose limiting loot boxes to those over the age of 18, a move that Belgium has already undergone due to reclassifying loot boxes as gambling. However, a report released last week suggested that restrictive loot box laws don’t really work and that the game world would do better to find another way to regulate loot boxes.
It’s also worth remembering that this decision comes after the UK government decided (thanks, PC Gamer) that there would be no change to the country’s lootbox laws last month, despite a 2020 appeal by the House. or Lords of the Land to reclassify loot boxes as gambling. However, the report doesn’t let EA and other gaming companies off the hook about loot boxes.
While recommending industry self-regulation, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport says it “will not hesitate to consider legislative changes” if the industry fails to successfully meet a number of conditions. These include not allowing children to buy loot boxes, ensuring that “spending controls and transparent information” are available in loot box GMAs, and developing “better evidence and research” regarding the effect of loot boxes on gamers. . So if EA does not meet those conditions with: FIFA 23 loot boxes, this fight may not be over yet, and in the future we may see the UK government take action against the game. We’ll tell you more about this as soon as we get it.
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