Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo Finally Cave on Loot Boxes

Changing the ESRB rating on games wouldn't have any impact on game sales no matter what was written for the cause of the M rating, mostly due to the fact that most parents don't even look at it and just go to buy the game for their kid simply because they ask for it. Putting an adult only rating on it would make sense, especially if loot boxes are considered gambling by several countries, as you can't even be on most casino floors unless you are an adult and would greatly discourage developers from putting it in major games as it would simply put the stigma of the rating on that game, making use of the fact that some parents will see the rating code but not bother to see why it was rated that way. This rating would also block most retailers from selling it due to their company guidelines not allowing the sale of games with that rating, and I hate to say it but this seems like just an attempt to sound like they are trying to do something about it but not actually trying to do anything.

I find it interesting that video games aren't responsible for violence because they are in other countries that don't have the same violence the US has is a valid statement (one I agree with of course) but people blame the guns even though there are other countries that have high rates of gun ownership but not the mass shootings or violence we have, and that the semi-automatic rifles we have have been around for 70 years but the mass shootings didn't happen back then and only started recently, relatively speaking. Also if guns caused murder and suicide, then we would be the highest in the world for both, and by a lot, but we aren't even close and we aren't even close to the top of the list for just gun murders. When you look at the numbers of per capita mass killings we aren't even on top of that list, although for some reason people seem to think that mass killings with guns are worse than the other means used, like arson, which I've never understood. The whole thing frustrates me because both sides focus only on guns, one side trying to take them and the other trying to keep them, and nothing gets done that will actually help with the violence problems we have. And for walmart taking down displays with violent game adds, I really think that's more about not triggering people and less about them blaming games, same with ESPN pushing back that Apex tournament.

I don't think video games cause violence but I don't think Walmart taking down violent displays is a negative thing. I think it's about not normalizing violence to future generations not stopping a shooter that walks in.

Regarding PC games, even exclusives, I'm sure they'll find it very difficult to handle the expectation of including this information considering the inherent market share of any cross-platform games which have the odds included by default (at least when this takes effect).

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Literally did a spit take when they showed Doug Bowser.

This is a positive step forward on the whole lootbox thing, but I kinda feel like they should get a separate label from the usual ESRB rating. How'bout they slap a stamp on the cover that's just a dollar sign and a dice. That'd send a pretty clear message.

I'm glad companies are finally doing/looking like they're doing something about loot boxes and I think if there was a way to show that games had them instead of changing the ratings that would be more efficient. It would help parents buying the games and also probably help companies because, and I don't know about other countries but an M/18 rating makes games harder to sell to audiences, especially when there's no real reason for that rating to be so high. On the topic of video games=violence, I am 26 years old and that argument has been thrown around even before I was born. It is ridiculous and to people who do believe that how come the news and films etc. aren't taken into consideration?? I personally have seen worse things on 24 hour news cycles then in any video game.

Why is tencent holding out then? Their major market is China, where they have to do it anyway.

Does SE even have lootboxes? I dont recall ever seeing them in any of the SE games iv played you could always buy what you wanted out right.

Also LOL "Rate the game M so kids wont be exposed to them" are you serious there are 1000s of 10 year olds on call of duty like WHAT? lol