LogFAQs > #951513343

The German government has passed a law that means if a game has loot boxes, they must be taken into consideration when that game is being given an age rating. This could be a stumbling block for companies such as EA, whose live service games often contain loot boxes. The law must now pass the Federal Council, something it is expected to do this Spring.

How will the new German law affect games with loot boxes?

According to GamesLaw.org, German games (as well as other media) won't simply be rated on content anymore. Instead, ratings will take into account which interactive elements and "risky mechanics" games feature. These include "gambling-like mechanics", under which loot boxes would fall, as well as user data collection and exhortations to purchase other content or media that isn't age-appropriate. Said elements would then contribute to the decision regarding what age rating to give a game, with a higher age rating possible if multiple "risky mechanics" are found.