Should Loot Boxes Be Removed From Online Games, Especially Mobile Games

With more and more free-to-play games are released nowadays, loot boxes become the method for publishers to make money from gamers. But do loot boxes work in the right way? Recently, The United States Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has conducted research on loot boxes in online games.

FTC chairman Joseph Simons reported that there is a possibility of links between loot boxes and gambling in online games.

For who don't know, loot boxes are content packs that can be purchased with real money. In loot boxes, gamers will have a chance of getting better items or characters to improve their power.

In a recent UK research, they found that nearly 30% of children have spent money to buy loot boxes in video games, especially mobile games. There are some signs of addictive affection to children with buying loot boxes, that could later lead to spending too much money.

Although most gamers choose to use the loot boxes system to enhances their experience in games, the system should be re-estimated if publishers are now taking advance to make too much money from players.

The fact that in many mobile games, you can only get some rare and strong characters with unique skills, enhanced stats... or ultimate weapons through buying loot boxes. The more money you spend on loot boxes, the more power you will get. Meanwhile, children are very susceptible and lack of awareness about money.

Some European governments such as Belgium or Netherlands have banned loot boxes in online games, that make publishers like EA or Activision remove loot boxes from their video games (FIFA, Overwatch...).