Starting next year, gamers will be given a better idea of what titles feature loot boxes and how much they’re going to get nickel and dimed if they can’t resist temptation. Microsoft, Nintendo, and Sony announced their commitment today for adding labels that warn of in-game purchases, as well as disclosures of “the relative rarity or probabilities of obtaining randomized virtual items in games.”
Activision Blizzard, Bandai Namco Entertainment, Bethesda, Bungie, Electronic Arts, Take-Two Interactive, Ubisoft, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, and Wizards of the Coast have also made similar pledges. The decision mirrors Apple and Google’s decision for mandating lootbox odds disclosure in mobile games.
Some notable ESA member publishers who haven’t made such a commitment include 505 Games, Capcom, CI Games, Deep Silver, Disney Interactive Studios, Epic Games, Focus Home Interactive, Gearbox Publishing, GungHo, Intellivision Entertainment, Kalypso, Konami, Magic Leap, NCsoft, Natsume, Nexon, Rebellion, Riot Games, Sega, Square Enix, THQ Nordic, Tencent, and Marvelous.