Ask anyone what was the most heated topic in gaming for the last few months, and you'll no doubt receive rants about loot boxes and in-game currency. Star Wars Battlefront II was at the forefront of the controversy, with plenty of backlash from players who were not only upset with the progression system, but also the way popular characters had to be earned in-game.
Via Polygon, Apple has taken a page out of EA's book after the publisher walked back some of its policies. The Apple Store updated with a new set of requirements for developers that publish games on its platform. A new clause now requires developers to not only make it clear that loot boxes are involved in particular titles, but what its odds are. Games that feature items that award random items must be explicit about how likely it is that you might actually get said item instead of leaving it intentionally mysterious.
Interestingly enough, Apple’s clause is not a requirement in the United States, though some countries in Asia require companies to do just this. And while future iOS games will reveal loot box odds, console gamers will never know the odds of unlocking a legendary item inside a loot box unless something changes in the near future.
The implications for mobile games with this new stipulation are dire, however. Games like The Elder Scrolls Legends or Hearthstone would be required to post the odds for players that receive certain cards after they’ve purchased card packs, while other random hero drops with games like Fire Emblem Heroes would have to make it very clear how easy it would be to nab them with the gashapon system.
Whatever ends up happening with this regulation, whether or not it sets a precedent in the industry, mobile and beyond, it’s clear that Apple is making its stance known in the hard-fought battle against loot boxes and what’s being considered gambling in video games. It’s a messy fight that’s only going to get messier in the future.
