ESRB Revamps Its “In-Game Purchases” Label to Indicate Whether a Game Has Loot Boxes or Not

[Tsing]

Image: Blizzard



Avoiding video games with loot boxes is about to get much easier. The ESRB has announced a new label that will be applied to any title featuring randomized elements, such as loot boxes, gacha games, item or card packs, prize wheels, and treasure chests, as well as other, non-randomized paid elements.



“This new Interactive Element, In-Game Purchases (Includes Random Items), will be assigned to any game that contains in-game offers to purchase digital goods or premiums with real world currency (or with virtual coins or other forms of in-game currency that can be purchased with real world currency) for which the player doesn’t know prior to purchase the specific digital goods or premiums they will be receiving (e.g., loot boxes, item packs, mystery awards),” the ESRB explained...

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[Brian_B]

Ok so loot boxes suck, but this seems to be a bit over the top. Next the ESRB will require gambling addition notices...