An insider from Electronic Arts, during an interview with CBC, claims that the game series FIFA is guiding players towards purchasing loot boxes.
An insider from EA gaming company located at Burnaby BC, leaked a 54-page document containing confidential information about the company’s future plans. One of the points stated in the document is that EA is driving players towards the game mode FIFA Ultimate Team (FUT), which is where players can purchase loot boxes.
FUT is a game mode that users can play without “spending a dollar” according to the insider. However they went on to say that as the users continue to play this mode, they will soon realize “it takes a long time to earn coins”, and will “get frustrated pretty fast.” The outcome of this is the purchase of loot boxes.
EA’s primary defense is that users are not forced to purchase loot boxes; it is optional. However, some people in the FIFA community have been struggling from loot box addictions as shown in this reddit forum.
The issue is that countries are discussing whether the act of purchasing and opening a loot box is related to gambling or not. Belgium even went on to outlaw loot boxes. Experts say that “the features of a loot box are similar to a slot machine”, making it more “attractive” and “addictive” for some people. EA has had several lawsuits against them alleging they are violating gambling legislation such as this class action in Vancouver.
The insider says, even with users being addicted and critics saying loot boxes are linked with gambling, people within the company such as himself, are not able to make immediate changes. The reason being that many other companies include the loot box system and even though it is illegal in Belgium, it is legal in the US and Canada.
“We can’t really do anything about it because at the end of the day, [the] company is trying to make money and satisfy investors.”
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