US Senator calls on ESRB and FTC to review loot box practices
Hassan outlined her concerns during a recent Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee hearing, revealing she's already written to the ESRB asking the organization to do more to protect kids and inform parents about the potential dangers of loot boxes. But Hassan's letter is the first public attention the issue has received from the federal government. Last month the World Health Organization recognized gaming disorder as a diagnosable disorder. She added that what makes loot boxes more problematic is that they can be targeted at children. She said: "While there is robust debate over whether loot boxes should be considered gambling, the fact that they are both expensive habits and use similar psychological principles suggest loot boxes should be treated with extra scrutiny".
Hassan, who said she heard about loot boxes from a constituent, took time during the hearing to highlight the FTC's previous finding that the ESRB is "one of the most effective voluntary enforcement boards" in entertainment.
Additionally, Senator Hassan urged the ESRB to work with "relevant stakeholders" and parents to collect and publish data on how developers utilize loot boxes, as well as how widespread they are and how much money players are spending on them. I've reached out to the ESRB for comment, and will update if I receive a reply.
Washington State Senators Kevin Ranker (D), Reuven Carlyle (D), and Karen Keiser (D) have also introduced a bill concerning loot boxes in online games and apps.
US senator calls on ESRB to take action on loot boxes, suggests FTC could get involved
It looks like the concerns raised by last year's video game loot box controversies are still prevalent in the minds of politicians over in the US.
The Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB) has an important mission in both providing parents with the necessary information to make decisions about the suitability of games, and their content, for children, as well as ensuring that the industry is following responsible marketing practices.
All three answered with a resounding 'yes, ' and agreed that loot boxes - which ask players to spend real-world or in-game currency on a randomized reward - create problems that warrant genuine concern.
With the changes to technology that come in a field as dynamic as video games, the ESRB "must work to keep pace with new gaming trends, including the in-game microtransactions and predatory gaming tactics, particularly as they are deployed on minors", Hassan wrote, according to Glixel. She also asked developers for the implementation of tools which allows parents to disable loot boxes, or at least make them less essential to gameplay.
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