Leaked Documents Show EA Really Wants You To Buy FIFA Loot Boxes
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EA purposefully drove players toward gambling-like microtransactions in
FIFA 21, according to an insider who leaked internal documents to the CBC. “Video game company wants to make money” isn’t exactly a bombshell, but in light of EA’s long-held stance on loot boxes and microtransactions, the 54-page document might raise an eyebrow.
Says new research. Updated on 3 April 2021
New research has robustly verified a link between loot boxes and problem gambling.
Researchers at the universities of Plymouth and Wolverhampton said loot boxes are structurally and psychologically akin to gambling .
It also found that large numbers of children are opening loot boxes.
Eurogamer news cast: why did Nintendo kill Mario?
Loot boxes are a controversial video game mechanic that encourages real-world spending on virtual goods.
Loot boxes appear in a number of video games, but it is EA s FIFA series, and in particular its money-spinning Ultimate Team mode, that has become the focal point of the debate around them. EA has always denied FIFA s loot boxes are gambling.
We re angry too. Updated on 13 March 2021
EA has suspended all discretionary content granting indefinitely amid the ongoing EA Gate scandal that has rocked the FIFA series.
Earlier this week Eurogamer reported on how the FIFA community had unearthed direct messages that appeared to show an EA employee selling coveted Ultimate Team cards for thousands of pounds on the black market.
These direct messages mentioned FUT Icon cards in packages priced 750-1000 euros. In one WhatsApp message, three Prime Icon Moments cards were offered for 1700 euros.
So we grind/trade/open packs and can?t touch these PIM players but EA employees sell them to people secretly for ,700?!?! LOL I respect the grind but my god. pic.twitter.com/CCnhjZbcgH Nick ?? (@Nick28T) March 10, 2021
EA suspends all discretionary FIFA Ultimate Team content granting indefinitely amid EA Gate scandal eurogamer.net - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from eurogamer.net Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Debate for the ages. Updated on 9 March 2021
UPDATE: The Bundestag has amended its announcement about the passing of reform of the Youth Protection Act to remove mention of loot boxes.
It appears the Bundestag made a mistake with its own announcement of the legal reform. The announcement, which can be viewed on the Bundestag s website, no longer includes the line: It is also planned to deactivate cost traps such as loot boxes by default.
The amendment does stipulate that age ratings will be expanded to include descriptors for various problematic mechanics, including cost traps . The idea here is to indicate risk if it was not taken into account in the age classification.