UK Interactive Entertainment, the UK games industry’s trade association has released guidelines for loot box distribution. The Ukie recommends that lootboxes be restricted to those over 18.
The Technical Working Group is responsible for the Ukie guidelines. The DCMS established this group in July of 2022.
This group was formed in response to a government call for evidence concerning lootboxes, launched in September of 2020.
The meeting was called because of concerns about young people gambling while using loot box games in videogames. In many cases, loot boxes require money in order to unlock features and tools within the game.
Principal recommendations
The Ukie guidelines recommend that young people are not allowed to access loot boxes unless they have permission from their parents or guardians.
Daniel Wood, Ukie’s co-CEO said: “Publishing shared principles on how the industry views lootboxes is an UK first. It gives us a direction for moving forward.” The principles are designed to improve the protections of all players, and demonstrate that industry commitments towards safe and responsible gaming.
We look forward to implementing them in the next few months, working with other industries and others.
DCMS released a press release today (18th July) in which it welcomed these new developments. The DCMS said it hoped that these developments would strengthen the player protection measures, especially for young players.
The government welcomed this guideline, which, when fully implemented, could enhance the protection of players in accordance with the goals set forth in the response by the government, said DCMS.
These are some suggested guidelines
Ukie’s 11-point guideline for the use of loot boxes is a total of 11. The Ukie recommends the use of technological controls to stop under-18s using loot box. To circumvent these technological controls, parental consent would be required.
It is also important to raise awareness about these controls.
DCMS praised the recommendation regarding parental consent, and called for the industry as a whole to strengthen its parental control rules.
DCMS added, “We are pleased with the industry’s new guidance that uses technological controls to prevent anyone younger than 18 years old from purchasing a lootbox without their consent.”
As part of the implementation of its guidelines, we urge industry to monitor and increase parental controls, and ensure that best practices are widely adopted, such as default PS0 limits for child accounts. This applies to both loot box purchases and in-game purchase.
Keep players informed
Ukie also suggests that any loot box in the game be made known before it is purchased or downloaded. The player will be informed.
Ukie suggests some unexpected solutions to these recommendations.
The industry has formed an expert panel to ensure that games are only played by those who have reached the age of majority. They also promise to offer lenient policies for refunds on purchases of loot boxes made without parental or guardian consent.
DCMS stated that the policy of lenient reimbursement was important as a “backstop”, to prevent financial harm from happening.
The statement went on to say that “we recognise, even after these improvements, age-assurance technologies and parental controls may not prevent children from buying loot box without parental consent.” Refunds can be used to mitigate any financial risks that may arise from loot box purchases.
Other countries are also implementing similar measures
The loot box has long been criticised as an aspect of video games. In 2022, one day after results from the UK Children’s Commissioner’s call for evidence were announced, Rachel de Souza, UK Children’s Commissioner, declared the boxes “inappropriate”.
She called on video game designers to consider the impact that unregulated loot boxes could have for young people.
In July 2022 the Ministry of Consumer Affairs in Spain published a bill draft that addressed the regulation of lootboxes. Spain at the time was considered the first EU country to specifically regulate loot box.
The process began in February 2021 when the Spanish regulator Direccion General de Ordenacion del Juego opened a public consultation on how loot box regulation should be done.
Meanwhile, from 1 January 2023, German video game age-rating body Unterhaltungssoftware Selbstkontrolle began to consider whether loot boxes should factor into its age-rating system.
