Hawley is expected to introduce this bill to the Senate soon, with it being dubbed “The Protecting Children from Abusive Games Act.” Although the exact targeting of the bill is unknown, Hawley says that it is looking at games designed for kids and those “whose developers knowingly allow minor players to engage in microtransactions.” In support of his bill, Hawley references the free-to-play match-three puzzle video game, Candy Crush.
Candy Crush contains a $150 “Luscious Bundle” that is serving as Hawley’s prime example of a microtransaction that potentially has a negative effect on children. It’s also worth mentioning that while some games have backed away from microtransactions, others use them almost exclusively to make profit, which is partially why Pokemon GO made an insane amount of money in April 2019.
Hawley went on to say,
Although Hawley’s usage of “addiction” in this context is almost ambiguous, he is likely referring to circulating ideas that loot boxes are gambling. Several video game companies have debated this claim, with Electronic Arts being one of the biggest to question it. About a year ago, EA CEO Andrew Wilson explained why loot boxes are not gambling from his perspective, which boils down to there always being a reward.
In response to Hawley’s bill, the Entertainment Software Association (a video game industry lobbyist group) issued the following statement: “Numerous countries….determined 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.”
Source: Kotaku
