Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft join forces to enact loot box regulation

The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) has announced that Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo have come together to force developers and publishers to disclose the odds of all “loot boxes” or similar systems within video games on their platforms. 

In effect, the three largest console platform holders have given game makers an ultimatum. If you want to sell your goods on our platforms, you will have to start publishing your odds. Sadly, these new rules will only apply to future game releases, or games that are updated to add loot box mechanics. These rules are set to be implemented in 2020. 

After this announcement, several major game developers and publishers have pledged to release loot box odds for all new games. This list includes the following ESA member companies; Activision Blizzard, Bandai Namco Entertainment, Bethesda, Bungie, Electronic Arts, Microsoft, Nintendo, Sony Interactive Entertainment, Take-Two Interactive, Ubisoft, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, and Wizards of the Coast. 

This step will add a much-needed layer of honesty to the world of in-game loot mechanics, as it will allow gamers to know exactly how likely they are to get the loot they want. This may also force developers to give fairer odds for loot drops, as the mystery surrounding loot probability makes it easier for developers to make rare items more difficult to access.  
 
While this move will not completely tackle the issues posed by in-game loot box mechanics, it is a huge step in the right direction. Sadly, this initiative does not extend to the PC platform. That said, developers would look extremely dodgy if they didn’t give their games the same loot box odds on all platforms. Perhaps PC storefronts like the Epic Games Store and Steam can jump on this?