A German City Is Advocating For An Outright Ban On Loot Boxes In Video Games

Germans, like pretty much all players from every other country, dislike loot boxes.

According to Buten un Binnen, the parliament of the German state of Bremen is advocating for a ban on loot boxes in video games, with the governing coalition proposing several restrictions around their use — including an outright ban. This coalition consists of the Social Democrats, the Greens, and the FDP. The motion was passed despite opposition from the Christian Democrats Union (CDU), which alternatively proposed including ID verification for in-game purchases and displaying prices in Euros. Those two parts were rejected. 

The Bremen state parliament has now requested the state senate to advocate for the coalition's proposals at a nationwide level.

This coalition also calls for bans on social casino games, premium currency, and livestreaming of games featuring loot boxes. Meanwhile, the CDU suggested additional measures such as setting monthly spending limits, warning players about risks before playing, and a ban on loot boxes for users under 10 years old. 

As of now, nothing changes though. Germany's current regulation requires games containing loot boxes to declare this on the box, impacting the age rating assigned by the local rating body USK. The notion does, however, signify a growing concern about the impact of loot boxes in Germany, Europe, and beyond.