Ukie has released new guidelines regarding loot boxes, following the establishment of a Technical Working Group in July 2022 by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).
This initiative stemmed from concerns regarding the use of loot boxes in video games by underage players, which was perceived as a form of gambling.
Loot boxes often require real money to unlock in-game features or items.
The primary recommendation in the Ukie guidelines is that loot boxes should be inaccessible to young people unless explicitly enabled by a parent or guardian.
This is aimed at enhancing player protection, particularly for minors. Ukie has presented a total of 11 guidelines, including the implementation of technological controls to prevent individuals under the age of 18 from accessing loot boxes without parental consent.
The guidelines also emphasize the importance of raising awareness about these technological controls.
DCMS has welcomed these recommendations, expressing hope that they will strengthen player protection measures, especially for young players.
The government commends the commitment to using technological controls to restrict access to paid loot boxes for individuals under 18.
Additionally, Ukie’s guidelines call for transparency, requiring the disclosure of the presence of loot boxes in a game before purchase or download to ensure that players are well-informed.
Beyond these expected measures, Ukie proposes the establishment of an expert panel on age assurance in the games industry and a commitment to lenient refund policies for loot box purchases made without parental consent.
The lenient refund policy is considered a vital “backstop” to prevent financial harm resulting from unregulated loot box purchases by children.
Loot boxes have faced criticism in the gaming industry for some time.
In July 2022, the UK Children’s Commissioner, Dame Rachel de Souza, described loot boxes as “inappropriate” and called on game developers to address their impact on young people.
In Spain, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs published a draft bill in July 2022 to regulate loot boxes, making Spain one of the first countries in the EU to take such action.
This regulatory process began in February 2021 when Spain’s regulator, Dirección General de Ordenación del Juego (DGOJ), sought input on how to regulate loot boxes.
Furthermore, as of January 1, 2023, the German video game age-rating body, Unterhaltungssoftware Selbstkontrolle, has been considering whether loot boxes should be factored into its age-rating system.
These developments reflect an industry-wide effort to address concerns related to loot boxes and enhance player protection, especially for young players.