Loot boxes have been a huge thing during the month of October 2017. Much of the microtransaction rage has actually been channeled towards the ESRB, as the gaming community has been trying to figure out avenues to approach to combat this new trend. Unfortunately, this particular method didn’t work out in the favor of those upset.
After some correspondence with Kotaku, the ESRB released a statement saying that it does not consider loot boxes as comparable to gambling. It’s a serious matter to consider, as a game that the ESRB considers to contain actual gambling is automatically hit with the deadly “Adults Only” rating.
The statement likened the experience of buying and selling loot boxes to that of buying and selling trading card games, such as Pokemon or Magic: The Gathering. While someone buys a pack of cards hoping for something they want or need, it’s just as likely they bought a pack full of stuff they already had.
For now, folks concerned about loot boxes causing issues for vulnerable people will have to look elsewhere for a solution or potential regulation.
Source: Kotaku