Why are loot boxes unethical?

What is the controversy behind loot boxes in video games? If you pay real money for a lootbox and get a random item, or selection of items, with a small chance of getting something cool, powerful or rare, it's gambling. It's basically a slot machine.
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Why are lootboxes unethical?

The source of controversy here is that buying a loot box means paying for a randomized reward of variable value. This in turn results in loot boxes being likened to gambling, and to related claims, such as that loot boxes are addictive and, in a sense, similar to slot machines.
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What are the negative effects of loot boxes?

In-game purchases such as loot boxes cause financial and emotional harm to children and young people. Children find it difficult to track their spending in-games and fail to understand the value of money, leading to poor spending decisions. Digital items are highly desirable and collectible, driving repeat buying.
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What is the problem with Lootbox?

Loot Box Spending May Lead To Problem Gambling

Emerging research suggests that loot box purchases and similar gambling behavior among children or teens can lead to problem gambling later in life. These activities seem fun and harmless, potentially normalizing risky behavior.
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Why should loot boxes be banned?

Player expenditures and gambling concerns

Loot boxes are considered part of the compulsion loop of game design to keep players invested in a game. Such compulsion loops are known to contribute towards video game addiction and are frequently compared to gambling addiction.
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The Rise & Fall of Loot Boxes

Are loot boxes ethical?

Random methods such as loot boxes are inherently problematic if the odds are not known to players, since there is no way to evaluate whether spending money on them is worth it. Even if the odds are known, they are very similar to gambling and run similar risks, including a worry about addiction.
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How are loot boxes predatory?

The low probability of obtaining a desired item means that the player will have to purchase an indeterminate number of loot boxes to obtain the item. Loot boxes resemble gambling slot machines because they require no player skill and have a randomly determined outcome (i.e., prize).
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Did overwatch get sued for Lootboxes?

Blizzard Entertainment Inc. won a bid to keep a lawsuit over “loot boxes” in one of its games out of court when a California appellate court agreed the minor plaintiff had agreed to arbitrate all claims against the game maker.
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Why did overwatch remove Lootbox?

A main reason for the removal of loot boxes is to avoid potential legal battles around the world. Loot boxes are now outlawed by many countries, so gaming companies have had to come up with creative solutions to ensure that their games are still profitable.
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What is the epic games lawsuit loot boxes?

Epic Games has reached a settlement agreement in a Canadian class action case related to loot box purchases in Fortnite and Rocket League. To learn more about the class action settlement, please visit epiclootboxsettlement.ca.
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What do game developers think about loot boxes?

“I generally don't think much of them.” agrees Abhay Ramakrishnan, a game designer at Deca Games, “I definitely don't avoid them outright because chance-based rewards are in most games. Even in games with alternative rewards systems, loot boxes are present as a reward system for players who don't pay.”
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What country made loot boxes illegal?

Belgium continues to maintain its 'ban' on loot boxes because the country's gambling law has a uniquely wide definition. This means that loot boxes cannot be legally offered for sale to either children or adults.
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Are free loot boxes illegal?

Are Loot Boxes Legal? Today, with a few exceptions, most forms of loot boxes remain legal and unregulated worldwide. However, proponents of loot box regulation argue that the chance and rarity mechanics make loot boxes akin to gambling and constitute predatory practices toward minors.
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Are microtransactions ruining gaming?

Are Microtransactions Good for Gaming? While microtransactions may be good for gaming companies due to the revenue they generate, many gamers don't like them because they intrude on gameplay and/or cost a lot (which is especially annoying when games are purchased, not free).
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Did China ban Lootboxes?

China outlines new rules banning log in rewards, loot boxes and other in-game spending.
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What are the ethical issues in the gaming industry?

Safeguarding Player Privacy

More generally, The issue of transparency and consent in data collection is a central ethical concern in the gaming industry. Many players may not be fully aware of the extent and purpose of data collection when they engage in their favorite games.
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Does OverWatch 1 not exist anymore?

After October 2, Overwatch 1 will be permanently replaced by its free-to-play sequel.
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What are the odds of Loot Box?

Every Loot Box contains one item of Rare (blue) or higher quality 100% of the time. For every 5.5 boxes opened (18.2%), a Epic item (purple) will be inside. For every 13.5 boxes opened (7.4%), a Legendary (gold) item will be inside.
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Why did OverWatch shut down?

The closure of the Overwatch League was not surprising given Activision Blizzard's overestimated ambitions, financial burdens, and the impact of a gender discrimination scandal that led to sponsors cutting ties and a decline in fan interest.
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What game invented Lootboxes?

Loot boxes were first introduced in the Korean game MapleStory in 2003. In 2008, Electronic Arts (EA) was the first major game developer to implement loot boxes with the introduction of a new online-only game mode in FIFA 09 [6], called FIFA Ultimate Team (FUT).
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Does fortnite use Lootboxes?

In a statement, Epic Games said it "discontinued the use of random item loot boxes in Fortnite and Rocket League in 2019 because we realized that while some players really enjoy being surprised by the content of random item loot boxes, other players are disappointed."
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How much money did Blizzard make from Overwatch loot boxes?

The orignal overwatch topped a billion dollars of income on microtransactions alone back then in 2019. For everyone who says tHEy HaD to DO iT and A F2P FriENDLY EnVironment Is UNreaSONable in a paID gAMe. This isn't about the 40$ price tag, its literally just the number of premium skins and lootboxes they sold.
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Who popularized loot boxes?

While the utilization of loot boxes can be traced back to Chinese online-multiplayer games as early as 2006, loot boxes were first popularized in the Western marketplace by Electronic Arts (“EA”) in 2009.
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Is the gaming industry's loot box problem about to get worse?

According to a new study, they're going to claim more cash than ever over the next four years–but will be subjected to increased scrutiny along the way. A new report by Juniper Research has found that video game loot box revenue will reach $20 billion by 2025.
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Are loot boxes illegal gambling?

The judge ruled that EA's loot boxes do not constitute illegal gambling, but they may fall under “deceptive practices”. What are loot boxes, exactly? They are mystery bundles of virtual items found in many video game environments. They can be won by a gamer as a reward and/or can be purchased with real money.
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