August 12, 2019

Ukie says that several video game industry leaders are announcing new initiatives to help consumers make informed choices about their purchases, including loot boxes.

According to Ukie, the major console makers (Sony Interactive Entertainment, Microsoft and Nintendo) are committing to new platform policies that will require paid loot boxes in games developed for their platforms to disclose information on the relative rarity or probability of obtaining randomised virtual items.

These required disclosures would also apply to game updates if the update adds new loot box features. The precise timing of this disclosure requirement is still being worked out, but Ukie says that the console makers are targeting 2020 for the implementation of the policy.

Ukie says that the initiatives were announced at a workshop hosted by the Federal Trade Commission in Washington on loot boxes. To read Ukie’s press release in full and for further information on the initiatives, click here.