The UK's leading video game industry organisation has issued new rules concerning the incorporation of loot boxes in video games.
UK Interactive Entertainment (UKie) has implemented a major change in its policy: any person under 18 years of age must obtain parental permission before they can access a loot box in-game feature. Parents may grant their consent if they are comfortable with their underage children accessing loot boxes.
The UKie is requesting that game publishers make it clear when a game contains loot boxes before it is purchased or downloaded. Additionally, they are suggesting that lenient refund policies be put in place, allowing young players to get a full refund if they have not provided the appropriate consent.
Players often purchase video game loot boxes using real money in exchange for in-game items. The items come in different levels of rarity and have a certain chance of being included in the box.
In response to worries about the elements of loot boxes that are similar to gambling, the Technical Working Group was established last July by the UK Department for Culture, Media, and Sports (DCMS). This group will collaborate with the video games industry to apply the regulations in the following months. UKie's new guidelines stem from the work of the Technical Working Group.
