The ERSB have introduced a new ratings designation, designed to indicate when a game has randomised elements among its in-game purchases.
This new Interactive Element, In-Game Purchases (Includes Random Items), will be assigned to any game that contains in-game offers to purchase digital goods or premiums with real world currency for which the player doesn’t know prior to purchasing the specific digital goods or premiums what they will be receiving (e.g., loot boxes, item packs, mystery awards).
This is the ESRB’s second time adapting its system due to criticism of loot boxes. Their first attempt to address concerns came over two years ago, when it introduced a designation that a game features in-game purchases.
The ESRB said that this second move has been made primarily in response to feedback from players, not from parents.
“According to research, parents are far more concerned about their child’s ability to spend real money in games than the fact that those in-game purchases may be randomized,” the group said. “This data helped to inform the introduction of the In-Game Purchases Interactive Element. That being said, since adding the In-Game Purchases notice to ratings assigned to physical games many game consumers and enthusiasts (not necessarily parents) have reached out to us asking the ESRB to include additional information to identify games that include randomized purchases.”