Video games sold in the UK will face tougher restrictions on in-game transactions involving so-called 'loot boxes', which allow players to purchase randomly assigned in-game extras.
Citing concerns over gambling, industry body Ukie has unveiled a host of measures to restrict such products, including their sale to under 18s.
These 11 new measures will “underline the industry's commitment to safe and responsible play,” Ukie said, “improv[ing] protections for all players”.
Ministers had previously raised concern over the sale of loot boxes which feature in games such as FIFA, Call of Duty and Fortnite, arguing they could be a gateway to gambling addiction because of their randomised nature and the differing perceived value of the digital products such 'boxes' can contain.
However, culture secretary Nadine Dorries ruled out any government intervention last July, suggesting there could be “unintended consequences” for the gaming market.
Ukie’s new industry principles:
- Technological controls to effectively restrict anyone under the age of 18
- A public information campaign to “drive awareness of and uptake of technological controls”
- Forming an expert panel on age assurance
- Pre-purchase disclosures that games include loot boxes
- Probability disclosures on what gamers will receive in loot boxes
- More easily understandable designs on loot boxes
- A Video Games Research Framework to study the products and their effects
- Commitment to tackle external illegal sales of loot boxes
- Lenient refund policies
- Better “advanced” protection for players
- Working with the government to review the new priciples
“Publishing these shared principles for how the industry approaches loot boxes is a UK first and provides us with a clear direction moving forwards,” Ukie boss Daniel Wood said.
“The principles will improve protections for all players and underlines the industry’s commitment to safe and responsible play.”