The ESRB Introduces A New Label To Indicate That A Game Includes Loot Boxes & Other In-Game Purchases

Despite the majority of those who play video games being opposed to loot boxes and the like, they persist and have unfortunately made themselves a staple of the industry at this point. The biggest games and franchises in the world such as Fortnite, Call of Duty, FIFA, and many more include a plethora of in-game purchases.

Thankfully, some developers have come to their senses and ceased including such content in their games — Psyonix being a notable example of this with Rocket League. What's more, the Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB) has finally acted and introduced a new label in order to indicate that a game includes "In-Game Purchases" and "Random Items" (meaning loot boxes).

Unfortunately, many parents of young gamers aren't aware of the nefarious practices that some games make use of in order to entice players into purchasing premium content with real-life currency. This is an effort to quell that issue and it's very appreciated.

Here's an excerpt from the ESRB's new blog; "Recent research shows that less than a third of parents have both heard of a loot box and know what it is. “Loot box” is a widely understood phrase in and around the video game industry and among dedicated gamers, but most people less familiar with games do not understand it."

This is undoubtedly a step in the right direction but many have taken issue with the vague wording that the ESRB has come up with — opting for "Random Items" over "Gambling." Given the research that they themselves mention, you would think it would be worth being as clear and illuminating as possible.