EA refuses to remove loot boxes from FIFA 18, risking prosecution in Belgium
Legal trouble could be in the company's future.
EA could potentially face legal ramifications after refusing to comply with Belgium's recently-instated gambling laws. The Belgian website Niewusblad states that EA has both continued to refuse to remove the loot boxes in games like FIFA 18 and in fact plans to add more loot box content in the upcoming FIFA 19.
This stems from the fact that Andrew Wilson, EA chief executive, doesn't agree the the loot boxes in FIFA are in fact gambling. He backs up this claim by stating FIFA players instead know the odds of what they'll receive and that the items earned via loot box cannot be sold for real cash.
This does not matter to the Belgian Gambling Commission, however, who has replied with "anyone who does not conform runs the risk of legal prosecution." This means that if EA doesn't change its tune and comply, this could turn into a pretty prickly situation.
Despite the fact that loot boxes were banned in Belgium back in April after being determined "games of chance" by the Belgian Gaming Commission, EA has made the decision to remain firmly rooted in its conviction over the products, even after other developers and manufacturers have removed loot boxes from their titles such as Overwatch and Hearthstone. It remains to be seen whether or not EA will continue down this path in the near future, but as soon as we know, we'll make sure you do as well. Stay tuned to Shacknews for further updates on the situation.
-
Shacknews
replyBrittany Vincent posted a new article, EA refuses to remove loot boxes from FIFA 18, risking prosecution in Belgium
-
EA just needs to get FIFA to threaten pulling Belgium out of future Cup games and they'll capitulate.
He who controls FIFA, controls the World... Cup. -
-
