UK government threatens to legislate on loot boxes if games companies don't step up parental controls

rockpapershotgun.com:

The UK government has called for games companies to take greater responsibility in protecting children and young people from harm linked to loot boxes, including mental health issues and gambling problems. Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries said that games companies and platforms needed to ensure parental purchase controls and age restrictions were in place to let kids play without the risk of harm, and to put parents’ minds at ease. Xbox’s parental restrictions on loot box purchases for under-18s were singled out for praise, and the government now say they will legislate if the rest of the industry doesn’t follow suit.

Dorries' statement follows the results of a call for evidence on the effects of loot boxes issued by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) in 2020. The report, which saw more than 32,000 responses from players and parents, found that players who paid for loot boxes “may be more likely to experience gambling, mental health, financial and problem gaming-related harms”.

The government is calling for companies to offer spending controls, and clear, accessible information for players to check what they’re spending. Their emphasis is on people who spend an unusual amount of money on loot boxes, and who might be at greater risk of harm. Children and young people buying loot boxes were highlighted as a particular concern.

Submissions from within the games industry also contributed to the report, along with an independent review of academic studies. As a result of the report’s findings, the DCMS is setting up a working group of games companies, platforms and regulatory bodies to “develop industry-led measures to protect players and reduce the risk of harm”. A project called the Video