Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft to require full disclosure of loot-box odds

According to the Entertainment Software Association Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft are joining together in working towards new loot-box policies to require companies to disclose in-game loot-box winning odds.

The announcement was made by ESA Chief Counsel of Tech Policy Michael Warnecke during the morning of August 7th’s Federal Trade Commission’s Inside the Game workshop that addressed the many issues surrounding loot-boxes.

“I’m pleased to announce this morning that Microsoft, Nintendo, and Sony, have indicated to ESA a commitment to new platform policies with respect to the use of paid loot-boxes in games that are developer for their platform. Specifically, this would apply to new games and game updates that add loot box features, and it would require the disclosure of the relative rarity or probabilities of obtaining randomized virtual items in games that are available on their platforms.

As well, many of the leading video game publishers of the Entertainment Software Association have decided that they are going to implement a similar approach at the publisher level to provide consumers this information and give them enhanced information to make purchase decisions.”

The ESA says the the three gaming giants are currently targeting implementation by 2020.

While this may be a good commitment from Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft, many large members of the ESA still have not committed to the same transparency on a publisher level.

505 Games, Capcom, CI Games, Deep Silver, Disney Interactive Studios, Epic Games Focus Home Interactive, Gearbox Publishing, GungHo, Intellivision Entertainment, Kalypso, Konami, Magic Leap, NCsoft, Natsume, Nexon, Rebellion, Riot Games, Sega, Square Enix, THQ Nordic, Tencent, and Marvelous have all yet to take up on the commitment of disclosing odds.

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