Best Selling Mobile Games Are Breaking Rules About Loot Boxes

As a seasoned gamer who has spent countless hours navigating through the digital landscapes of various games, I find the revelation about the lack of transparency in mobile games that contain loot boxes deeply concerning. Having witnessed firsthand how these mechanics can manipulate gameplay and potentially drain wallets, it’s disheartening to see such dishonest practices continue unabated.

A BBC investigation uncovers that many popular mobile games fail to clearly indicate they include loot boxes, with 26 out of the top 45 earning games on Google Play Store featuring these elements. Regrettably, just two of these games comply with regulations and openly declare their use of loot boxes. The remaining titles conceal this aspect, resorting to deceptive practices.

Monopoly GO!, the highest-grossing game featuring loot boxes, does not mention them in its ads.

The freshly launched advertisement featuring Chris Pratt, Jason Momoa, and Keke Palmer for a new game subtly mentions it has in-app purchases, however, it doesn’t clarify that these purchases are actually loot boxes in the fine print.

Without strong regulations in gaming, it’s crucial that games offer straightforward and open details about their characteristics, enabling both parents and players to make thoughtful choices,” stated Dr. Jane Rigbye, head of the Young Gamers & Gambles Education Trust. She described the results as worryingly concerning.

In the U.S., the listing for Monopoly GO! reveals that the mobile game includes “in-app purchases” in small text, similar to what’s mentioned in TV ads. Yet, it fails to explicitly state that the mobile game offers loot boxes as well. Instead, it advertises the option to subscribe to Play Pass and receive a $5 discount on any in-app purchase.

In simple terms, “Monopoly GO!” ranks as the 17th most downloaded mobile game on Google Play Store in the United States. Yet, it’s important to note that information about in-app purchases is not explicitly stated within this ranking; you need to navigate to the app’s store page to find the details about additional costs hidden in fine print.

Failing to Properly Disclose Loot Boxes Is Concerning Industry Experts

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) can remove and ban ads that do not properly disclose if games contain loot boxes but aren’t necessarily properly equipped to deal with the growing issue. While the ASA says they’re carefully monitoring mobile games, critics argue that it’s not enough.

In simpler terms, Leon Y Xiao, a researcher specializing in video game regulations at the IT University of Copenhagen, expressed concerns to the BBC about the ASA (Advertising Standards Authority). Although they occasionally uphold complaints against companies, it takes them a long time to enforce compliance. He explained that most games offering loot boxes (a type of randomized in-game purchase) do not clearly disclose this in their advertisements, despite what the ASA recommends.

“People are walking into a video game not knowing the potential risks, and this is assuming that people have even understood the risk of loot boxes to begin with.”

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2024-11-30 03:38