Senator Proposes Bill That Bans Loot Boxes And Microtransactions

The days of loot boxes might be numbered with Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri proposing a bill to ban all of them and more.

The "Protecting Children from Abusive Games Act" targets companies that "monetize addiction" in games, primarily through loot boxes and pay-to-win microtransactions, which the senator described as the "most abusive" elements in video games. In his official press release, Hawley explained the reasoning behind the proposed legislation.

"Social media and video games prey on user addiction, siphoning our kids' attention from the real world and extracting profits from fostering compulsive habits. No matter this business model's advantages to the tech industry, one thing is clear: there is no excuse for exploiting children through such practices."

A lot of games will certainly be affected should the bill be passed. Overwatch and Rocket League are among the many games that have loot boxes while a litany of mobile games offer microtransactions. Hawley, however, singles out the popular game Candy Crush, which offers a "Luscious Bundle" that will endow 1000 units of in-game currency, a pack of select temporary boosters, and 24 hours of unlimited lives for $149.99.

There's still a long way to go before The "Protecting Children from Abusive Games Act" becomes a law. The bill has to get through the Senate and then the House of Representatives before it becomes official.

This wait will give the targets of this bill the chance to provide enlightenment and encourage discourse about the matter. Entertainment Software Association, the trade association of the video game industry in the United States, responded to Hawley, noting that numerous countries have already deemed that loot boxes do not constitute gambling.

"We look forward to sharing with the senator the tools and information the industry already provides that keeps the control of in-game spending in parents' hands. Parents already have the ability to limit or prohibit in-game purchases with easy to use parental controls."

The Federal Trade Commission is set to open a formal discussion about issues regarding loot boxes with a workshop set August 7.

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