Loot boxes are one of the best features of video games because they give you random rewards in-game like unlocking new items and possibly getting level ups. And that is why gamers love them. However, many gamers, developers and even regulators constantly compare the concept of loot boxes to gambling.
Their argument is that loot boxes mimic chance-based reward systems, which is the same way gambling mechanics work. Is this comparison justified? Why do the media and regulators do these comparisons from time to time? Read on and find out.
What Exactly Are Loot Boxes?
In modern video games, loot boxes are digital containers that contain random virtual items. Depending on what you’re playing, it could be items, skins, powerups, or any other thing, but surely, it will always help you progress better as you play on.
As gaming continually evolves, we are seeing loot boxes in more titles like Overwatch 2, Genshin Impact, Diablo Immortal, etc. And you’ll surely come across them irrespective of the platform you play on; it is the same with consoles, mobile and PC platforms alike.
Similarities Between Loot Boxes and Gambling
The popularity of loot boxes has brought the attention of other industries like gambling to this gaming mechanic and rightfully so. With respect to that, we’ll talk about the similarities that justify these comparisons:
Randomised Outcome
For the most part, you don’t know what is in a loot box before opening it. But that doesn’t mean that you won’t open it. In fact, that uncertainty contributes to why gamers always look forward to opening a loot box. So that means you’re leaving it to chance to determine the content of each box.
With respect to gambling, most casino titles are games of chance. No matter how experienced a player is, they can’t accurately predict their next result. At the end of the day, everyone leaves it to chance too.
Psychological Triggers
With every loot box opening, there is a unique animation and sound that comes with it. This is put in by developers to add some sort of dramatic effect and create some anticipation for gamers. In some cases, we have different sounds and animations for the magnitude of rewards in the box; it is all psychological triggers to make you excited about it.
These same animations are also in casino games. For example, with slots, there are features like cascading reels, thunder strikes and other unique sound effects depending on the theme. This also applies to other games seen in the Time2play Gambling Guides with the same underlying concept of psychological triggers behind each of them.
Element of Risk-Taking
Gamers love to take risks because it adds to the suspense and excitement of playing. And with loot boxes, there is always a form of risk. For instance, with games like PUBG, all players are attracted to the loot boxes (crates), so it comes down to survival of the fittest. If you are not sharp enough, other players will eliminate you to get what they want.
The same goes for gambling in the sense of uncertainty. Since you don’t know the results beforehand (uncertainty), you’re also taking a form of risk. And that is one of the things that keeps you coming back for more.
Psychology Behind the Comparison
The basis of this comparison lies in the psychological elements behind it. One good argument is that game design elements closely mimic gambling elements. Some of these elements are:
- Bright visuals
- Sound effects
- Reward anticipation
Another argument has to do with general human behavior around randomized rewards. Studies show that a feeling of uncertain incentive is very appealing to us. And the same concept applies to loot boxes and gambling. Not knowing what is coming every time makes you want to come back for more. In short, unpredictability increases engagement.
Industry Response and Adaptations
In response to these comparisons, some developers and studios are making certain changes and innovations.
One major concept is the introduction of drop rate disclosures. It has to do with showing the probabilities of players getting specific items from loot boxes. With this, there is still some sort of “uncertainty,” but it is different from that of gambling. Here are some titles that have adopted this:
- Apex Legends: All Apex packs now have published drop rates, showing the percentage chance of getting rare, epic and legendary items.
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and Warzone: These games use tiered battle pass systems with fully transparent and fixed rewards as opposed to random loot boxes.
- Rocket League: The developers removed loot boxes in 2019, changing to a blueprint system and seasonal battle pass model.
Another notable response is parental control features in some titles. The idea is to give some sense of “control” to gamers; here are some games that have employed it:
- FC (FIFA) Series: The series now features playtime tools that can track time spent and the number of packs opened.
- Fortnite: To curb addiction, you can now get playtime reports and restrictions directly from Fortnite.
Wrap Up
This comparison between loot boxes and gambling is a reasonable one since both of them use the same psychological tactics. And while developers are not exactly coming to terms with this, you can’t deny that it is quite true. To that effect, we are constantly anticipating new updates and adaptations that studios and developers will make to make a statement.
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