Why did the predatory lootbox debate die down?

[Deathknightish]

Battlefront 2 made gamers outraged for its pay2win lootboxes, which in 2018 sparked government debates all across the world. Bills were formed, debates were had, laws were on the beginning of being formed, even gambling comissions explained that they are considered gambling, and then... nothing. It all just died down and we haven't heard anything new for nearly 1½ year.

What happened? Why did it all go quiet? Especially in Europe there was so much progress being made, so it's sad to see it all having, maybe, been for nothing.

[Kumorii]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li6sAZ_CyAo

There is still progress being made...legislation takes time and media have the attention span like 3 year old. Reports are made on whats new and hot and now with covid going on there is more reason why media attention died down.

[Deathknightish]

Gamers generally aren't known for caring about issues for very long.

But at the late stage of the debate it was taken care of by politicians, not only gamers.

- - - Updated - - -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li6sAZ_CyAo

There is still progress being made...legislation takes time and media have the attention span like 3 year old. Reports are made on whats new and hot and now with covid going on there is more reason why media attention died down.

Oh, completely missed that even though I watch nearly every of his videos. That's good to hear!

[Acidbaron]

Gamers generally aren't known for caring about issues for very long, especially because the days of videogames just being videogames are looong gone. Terrible practices have worn people down in the sense that the moment one is out of the door, another comes along that is even worse and requires even greater effort to combat.

Developers are moving away from lootboxes and the debate has been picked up as politicians now see it as a case to protect children and do not wish to introduce more easy gambling methods, something that happened before with sports betting.

[Mysterymask]

I mean nowadays the predatory lootbox stuff is almost entirely settled in Mobile games and some F2P stuff on PC...where sadly they kinda belong..and well sports games.
Most of the people here probably RARELY touch any of those so the discussion will kinda die down. It really rose up when they slapped it in a game people in our demographic would care about (Battlefront) and we all know where that came from...

add in political discourse that no major company wants ANY part of and you have a very dying problem.

[talwynn]

I would say its 3 fold. First the big elephant in the room currently, the world, in general, has more pressing things to worry about, which in turn has had devs being more generous than normal (Blizz giving the 100% buff as an example). Second, there really hasn't been a major AAA title with a pay to win system in place. I know there was a huge stink over NBA 2k20 numerous gambling type mini-games (spin the wheel, ball drops, and a slot machine), and PEGI said that 2k20 was borderline gambling but they would have to review what they define as gambling. The trailer announcement for the MyTeam mini-games received so much negative attention, 2k pulled the youtube trailer in a day or so (it has since gone back up, but features 36k dislikes to 3.9k likes). Lastly, the FTC held a conference about loot boxes, and the big three console manufactures; Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo; agreed that any game on their platforms that featured loot boxes had to disclose the chances the player had of winning something. Several game manufacturers didn't agree to the stipulation, but since they wouldn't have a platform to publish their games on, they are acquiescing. And with MS being a part of that agreement, it not only includes Xbox, but PC gaming as well.

[Low Hanging Fruit]

A few reasons..

1. The big AAA guys have kind of backed away from it. Sure, you still got offenders but it isn't like every new game coming out these days is packed with them like they were a year or two ago. It has become a major mobile thing but I think people have just come to expect it there. Has a lot to do with some top tier markets having governments stepping in. Others just a lot of media pressure.

2. Outrage on the internet specifically comes on strong and dies fast. When the mob finds outrage in most everything you always have a new thing to be outraged over and thus move on. Then online media types also are always looking for the next thumbnail and click bait. The same old story, even if valid, does earn clicks as fast as the next new bait.

3. Real world shit is going on right now and honestly it is soaking everything up and understandably so.

[exochaft]

I would say its 3 fold. First the big elephant in the room currently, the world, in general, has more pressing things to worry about, which in turn has had devs being more generous than normal (Blizz giving the 100% buff as an example). Second, there really hasn't been a major AAA title with a pay to win system in place. I know there was a huge stink over NBA 2k20 numerous gambling type mini-games (spin the wheel, ball drops, and a slot machine), and PEGI said that 2k20 was borderline gambling but they would have to review what they define as gambling. The trailer announcement for the MyTeam mini-games received so much negative attention, 2k pulled the youtube trailer in a day or so (it has since gone back up, but features 36k dislikes to 3.9k likes). Lastly, the FTC held a conference about loot boxes, and the big three console manufactures; Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo; agreed that any game on their platforms that featured loot boxes had to disclose the chances the player had of winning something. Several game manufacturers didn't agree to the stipulation, but since they wouldn't have a platform to publish their games on, they are acquiescing. And with MS being a part of that agreement, it not only includes Xbox, but PC gaming as well.

As with many political issues, the politicians are all about maintaining their status quo (one where they maintain money/power). That being said, I think it's safe to say the vast majority of politicians really didn't care about loot boxes at all, it was just a short-term issue in their minds where they could score political points and 'save the children!' Think of how many issues have come and gone, where there's a huge public outcry, the politicians say "something must be done! leave it to us!", and then the issue dies away with usually what equates to show votes or legislation that doesn't really do anything. Sadly, this usually works as most people somehow fully trust their governments and think they'll do what they say with the most altruistic intentions, despite thousands of years of human history showing politicians will urinate in your face and tell you it's raining... but that's another topic.

If anything, public perception and gamer backlash are far more potent and responsive remedies to issues people don't like in their games. If people don't buy the games of companies they think are predatory and/or don't buy their lootboxes, they'll stop making games like that. Quite a few games in recent memory where gamer backlash has had extremely fast turn-arounds on game features that were viewed very negatively by their audience, either getting them completely removed or altered.

[Schmilblick]

Because people are accepting it, just look at Hearthstone and their 60$ for 1/6 content.

[PenguinChan]

Because big developers are looking for ways to get away from lootboxes and provide a near as-stable profit inducing path. Everyone is hooked on Battlepasses right now, and it seems like many are going down that route (Which is infinitely better than lootboxes, obviously). But unfortunately, a lot of developers are doing what MMORPGs do and put a time limit on them.

That part is disgusting, honestly. Battlepasses should be infinite time to progress. Or at the very least, if you buy it when it was there - you have it forever.

[Acidbaron]

What was the thing with sports betting? Or is it just where you live? We have betting shops everywhere (sure, you need to be an adult to enter), but also entire shows on TV sponsored by game companies. Websites that offer sport results, have links under the games with odds how the rewards for your tip will be.

Ofc...as I said you have to be an adult to use.

Betting on football has been a big thing since i can remember, you can easily play on games through a newspaper store. There are also gambling machines in most of our pubs. Betting was only limited to 18+ recently but those who got hooked in their teens still gamble nowadays some problematic some not.

So with loot boxes they see another similar issue arising and want to nip it in the bud.

[Azerate]

Because the industry has mostly backed out of pushing it because it became a thing that people recognize as shitty

Also, all controversies get old, and there are new, more interesting ones, and ones more profitable for influencers to push

[DesoPL]

Because corona mess, and they will use it now to make good PR.