Loot box and microtransaction concerns are slowly, but surely, cropping up in governments all around the U.S. and the world. The newest sighting has been in the U.S. Senate thanks to New Hampshire Senator Maggie Hassan. She has not only written a letter to the Entertainment Software Rating Board, but also spoken with potential Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Commissioners.
Not only is Hassan putting the push on the ESRB to re-consider their stance on loot boxes and microtransactions, she’s also working to have future FTC Commissioners look into the issue. All three nominees that spoke with Senator Hassan agreed that they would be willing to investigate loot boxes, if they are confirmed for positions at the FTC.
Senator Hassan’s biggest concerns with loot boxes are the access that children have to them, and the recent World Health Organization update that lists “gaming disorder” as a real-life addiction. She would like the FTC to do their own investigation so that the U.S. government can learn from and potentially use their results to enact laws. Hawaii State Representatives have already proposed bills to put age requirements on games containing loot boxes.
A Senator from Washington state is also pushing for new bills, While Belgium as a whole is working towards banning loot boxes in Europe. New Zealand and the UK do not consider loot boxes gambling however.
It’s just a waiting game at this point to see how things shake out.
Source: IGN