Australia is taking a strong stance against loot boxes in video games, with new regulations set to take effect this Sunday. Any game sold in Australia with loot boxes will be rated either M (Mature) or R 18+ (Restricted).
Loot boxes are digital blind boxes that gamers buy in the hopes of finding rare items, weapons, or character outfits. However, the odds of getting what you want are slim, and the only way to get them quickly is to buy them with real money.
New Regulations
The new regulations aim to label “gambling-like content in video games.” Any game with a randomized loot box system offered for purchase with real money will be given an M (Mature) rating, with retailers discouraged from selling such games to anyone under 15. Games with “simulated gambling” will get an R 18+ rating, making them illegal to sell to anyone under 18.
Exceptions
Games can still use randomized or chance-based reward systems without getting an M rating as long as those systems aren’t tied to real-world purchases. Thematic or visual elements that evoke gambling, such as casino games, won’t automatically be rated R 18+ if they don’t include actual gambling.
Australia’s Stance on Video Game Classification
Australia is known for having a heavy hand in video game classification, with many high-profile games getting Refused Classification due to horror, narcotic, or sexual elements. These new regulations are aimed at keeping kids away from loot boxes and addictive elements tied to real-world spending.
The new regulations will apply to new games released after September 22, but existing games may be reclassified if new content is released. This move is part of a global trend, with the Netherlands banning loot boxes in 2018 and publishers shifting focus to “battle pass” designs.