Apple Now Requires Games with Loot Boxes to Disclose Odds

Megalith

Megalith

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Mobile gaming may be leading the way in providing transparency, as Apple has added guidelines to the App Store that make disclosure of loot probabilities mandatory. This update mirrors regulations in China that require games with randomized elements disclose the odds that control the “random” loot drops.

Per section 3.1.1 on in-app purchases, Apple has added the following bullet point: Apps offering “loot boxes” or other mechanisms that provide randomized virtual items for purchase must disclose the odds of receiving each type of item to customers prior to purchase. Basically, the App Store now operates on the same level of some Asian countries which have laws on the books about loot box (or gacha) mechanics.
 
Remember - It's only gambling if the word "gambling" is in the description. Just ask the the daily fantasy football sites.
 
wow this is a pretty big blow imo and a regulation that makes sense. The fact software companies were creating 2 versions of their apps to limit exposure to the odds is imo is telling about how the random loot system driven micro transactions try to hide and trick people into spending more than the value of the product.
 
Makes sense to me. You're not telling people what to do our what to make, your just forcing odds to be shown. +1 from me.
 
Paid loot boxes were always a completely stupid idea in the gamers standpoint. For the game maker it's been a lucrative and shady move.

It's especially bad because it targets children - they're the most suspectible for the loot gamble and constantly beg for money to open loot boxes.
 
B00nie said:
Paid loot boxes were always a completely stupid idea in the gamers standpoint. For the game maker it's been a lucrative and shady move.

It's especially bad because it targets children - they're the most suspectible for the loot gamble and constantly beg for money to open loot boxes.
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As a parent, though, I also see this as a fantastic teaching opportunity for our kids, a chance for them to learn something that will benefit them for the rest of their lives.
 
Mohonri said:
As a parent, though, I also see this as a fantastic teaching opportunity for our kids, a chance for them to learn something that will benefit them for the rest of their lives.
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I agree you get to teach them about deceit. Good money handling lesson.
 
Would rather they just ban the practice outright. We have 5+ states now that are going to legislate loot boxes out of existence very soon anyway.
 
DukenukemX said:
Games on the Mac? When did this happen? Not even OverWatch is on the Mac.

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I have a Steam collection of about 1000 games. Around 400 support the Mac. (I use a Mac for work and only use it for games if I'm traveling and have time to kill at the airport or hotel.) Apple doesn't care about games.
 
I don't play games on mac. I have linux/windows desktops for that. I actually booted up my windows 10 for the first time today after ... lost count how many months. I'm going to revive an old game for the holidays.
 
This is honestly the first time in awhile that apple gave me a chub.

In reality, Apple probably just wants people to spend less money in app, and more money on more apps. They are hoping that divulging that fact that you have a one in a billion chance to get the golden hat in a loot box that you may just spend that money elsewhere.
 
DukenukemX said:
Games on the Mac? When did this happen? Not even OverWatch is on the Mac.

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Since Apple doesn't make Desktop class GPUs, and most of their systems aren't designed for consumer convenience in upgrading, they don't benefit from promoting games on their desktop platform. It would just be sending individuals to AMD/NVIDIA products. This would even backfire as once people learn more about gaming, they realize that it's cheap and easy to build a windows box that plays everything and would leave the ecosystem all together.
 
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