Loot boxes

1. mai, 2022

How the gaming industry exploits consumers using loot boxes.

Summary

Loot boxes are “mystery packages” of digital content in video games where consumers spend real money to receive random in-game content that gives them advantages or cosmetic items for use within the context of the game. They are a form of in-game purchases1, incentivizing gamers to spend small sums of money for a chance of receiving a desirable reward.
The sale of loot boxes is highly lucrative for the video games industry, generating more than USD 15 billion globally in 2020.

Loot boxes have been the source of several controversies, with accusations often being levelled against these mechanisms of being predatory, fostering addiction, exploiting vulnerable consumer groups, and more.