The Star Wars Battlefront 2 Controversy - Learn More About The Loot Boxes Debate

Powerful industries dictate the rules in the game. Many companies pay attention to social responsibility these days. Nonetheless, you could still discover hot-potato situations who border the limits of ethical behaviour and capitalism. Oddly, the issue must live up to the hype, so that the government forces consider taking any further measures. Often, until members of the parliament make up their minds, the gaming producers are actively crafting the new direction for the society and the industry.
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The Opening Scene into the New Gaming Rules

Loot boxes are no new thing under the sun. The EA, Valve and 2K games creators have been allowing players to find special features within the loot crates for a few years now. It reminds me of an early-birthday-gift delivering a competitive advantage over blood relatives aka fierce opponents. At what point, though, did gaming cross the limit? It was all about innocent fun until the environment became ready, willing and able for real-cash exchange. At least according to the forecasts of the supplier side. In the days of yore, Counter-Strike, FIFA and NBA players should have gone the extra mile to obtain virtual benefits and trade it off inside the game structure. Throughout the last 10 years, however, the status quo started to change and the Battlefront 2 gambling controversy is one of the best examples.

And yes, a little gift box was a sweet treat to devour now and then. Over and above, legislators became alarmed when the gaming companies started offering paid attributes outside the game doubling the influence of a character and letting players become invincible as in the Star Wars Battlefront 2 case. Full of integrity, Star Wars game designers took a decision that powerful players will combat against the same category performers. You may wonder what the point of the game is, then. The only reasonable argument that comes to mind is giving a hell lots of cash for all add-ons to become a top achiever for a while until you get dispassionate.

Star Wars Battlefront 2 – Crossing Over Boundaries

During the last year, the new loot system was brought to life by the Electronic Arts gaming company. The unique trait of the game is the new loot box system. Players are able to come to top levels in exchange for downright cash. The characteristics implement the supply of the digital boxes with users not being aware of what they would get for their monetary value. Certainly, one heart’s true desire must be becoming an unstoppable beast. Besides, you can examine the main classes of weapons and attributes. The heroes have their own traits as well. Bear the expenses for loot boxes, and you may end up with one of those ridiculous items such as victory poses and emotes bringing you only humiliation in pure honesty. Boost cards are the ones providing for an absolute competency in the game.

The design of the Star Wars Battlefront 2 video game could be interpreted as a monetary incentive for consumers to purchase loot boxes while longing for a distinctive quality to equip their hero with. For instance, opponents could turn their hero resilient to damage. At level 1, they are given 50% of coverage, however, at level 4 it is a 100% protection. Collecting shots to ‘dress up’ your hero and advance in the game will take stacks of time. So, getting loot boxes must be obviously a quick solution to players’ dilemmas. Apart from becoming invulnerable players can maximize the degree of power by adding extra features such as increased fire rate by 70%. Once the level is upgraded some affluent people become uncontrollable monsters in comparison to low category adversaries. Then, there comes the nonsense of fairness mentioned above.

The New Loot Box System Crosses Over Some Ethical Limits

The response from the Electronic Arts developer seems a bit vague about the issue. They point out that players can still enjoy the game without needing to spend money on loot boxes.

Creating a fair and fun game experience is of critical importance to EA. The crate mechanics of Star Wars Battlefront II are not gambling. A player’s ability to succeed in the game is not dependent on purchasing crates. Players can also earn crates through playing the game and not spending any money at all. Once obtained, players are always guaranteed to receive content that can be used in the game. Eddie Makuch via EA Statement – Source: Gamespot.com

However, the loot boxes concept may just be in a similar fashion to betting on slots. Having said that, the Star Wars Battlefront 2 possesses three slots of upgrade cards – power equipment, emotes and victory poses portrayed in an interactive and less straightforward manner in contrast to casino slots. Despite that, the Star Wars Battlefront 2 gambling controversy supporters believe that the mechanic should be changed.

What is more, a large portion of the consumers of the video games consists of minors and teens having a general notion about gambling, the addiction symptoms and keeping a disposable income. American spokespeople have gathered together to ask for a legislation that would protect families, kids and adults from spending between a few hundred to a few thousand dollars each year. Apart from the monetary incentive, the loot box method provokes the equivalent part of the brain as any hazard game. It triggers dopamine responsible for our excitement when placing a bet. Parents require legislation to protect young people from the dangers of Battlefront 2 gambling and the rest of the worldwide gambling scene.

Governments’ Respons To The Star Wars Gambling Games

The Gambling Commissions of Belgium and the Netherlands have opposed to the Electronic Arts company and have got their box service banned for both countries’ residents. The Belgian authorities examined that the loot box payment mode is to blame for doubtful prizes, emotional outbursts and scamming people who are confident about possessing an advantage. Kids and adults should not be encouraged by blurring the lines between spare time video games and gambling entertainment.

Even though, all other gaming organizations have responded to critics and disabled the loot crate advantages out of Overwatch, Heroes of the Storm, Counter-Strike: GO and NBA 2K19. 2K Games even fostered supporters to oppose the law for prohibiting the pay-for-win technique. They were unwilling to do so. The single price for games reaches about £40 on average. Folks seem to be resilient to the concept of ‘pay-to-win’. Despite that, EA managers continue to push forward with the loot system incorporated in other video games such as FIFA’s 18 and 19 editions.

The EU Gambling Commissions Are Investigating the Case

The general manager of EA, Andrew Wilson, claims at a conference in May 2018 that the Star WarsBattlefront 2 loot boxes are not gambling since one cannot trade off any virtual item for real cash or withdraw any earnings, and you always get some kind of a distinct treat. Nonetheless, the Belgian authorities understand this form of monetary incentive as a ‘game of chance subject to Belgian gaming law’. The EA game designers are in grave danger of €800,000 fine and imprisonment of 5 years. Moreover, when the Belgian judges decide that minors are affected by the gambling system, the charges will surely skyrocket double.

Paying loot boxes is not an innocent part of the video games that presents itself as a game of skill. Players are tempted and misled, and none of the protective measures for gambling is applied. Now that children and vulnerable people, in particular, are exposed to them unprotected, game manufacturers but also parties such as FIFA, for example, are called upon to call a halt to this practice. Peter Naessens, director of the Belgian Gambling Commission

The Netherlands Gaming Authority has done their own investigation about addiction factors of the loot boxes concept. During the project, they found out that 6 out of 10 loot boxes are not in breach with the law, however, this practice suggests ‘moderate to high addiction’ levels. The characterizes of the boxes that are observed to be addictive encompass the perceived winning element, graphic illustration, the progression of boxes and the ability to unwrap as many of them as one can afford. The Dutch authorities oblige gaming businesses to eliminate the addictive qualities, restrict the accessibility to minors and to justify that the Battlefront 2 loot boxes have been characterized a fun and safe supplement to the game premises.

More, the EU Gambling Legislators and the Washington State Gambling Representatives have been discussing the lines between gambling and video entertainment. They came up with a common declaration to work mutually in the process of identifying gambling practices in the video game industry and to make certain that national laws and regulations are obeyed. The declaration from 17 September 2018 states that the EU misters will be active in differentiating and fostering the consciousness of the EU citizens about volatile amusements and gambling habits. The UK Authorities State Loot Boxes Are Not Gambling

On the contrary, the UK Gambling Commission spokesperson and director, Tim Miller explain that the Battlefront 2 loot boxes do not have the gambling element since the booties are neither assessed in cash value nor have the worth of real-life money. In other words, customers must be rewarded monetarily external of the game system in order for the games to be classified as unlicensed betting by the UK Commission. For now, a determined act is not foreseen by the authorities. Notwithstanding, Miller shows its consideration for the safety of the public.

Further Action and Results

The first version of Star Wars Battlefront is selling relatively well compared to the second edition where sales have dropped by 50% in 2016. The EA developers must have gambled customer satisfaction and lost their bet. The experiment had turned out to unveil the rage of few governments and gambling authorities in the roundabouts of EU countries and the USA. In the end, there is always hope for the decent guys to turn the plot around and exterminate all evil. After having experienced troubles with selling games in Belgium and the Netherlands as well as on the UK market, the EA organizers revised their second battlefront edition and abolished the ‘pay-for-win’ structure. Well, at least partially. During 2017, the Star Wars game producers put efforts into weakening the random luck effect but the competitive advantage of the opponents in the game was still based on chances. Therefore, they replaced the hazard concept with regular advancement. The natural progression of the game remained, however, early in 2018 some atheistic features were recovered such as the victory poses, emotes and costumes. Powerful appliances are acquired through organic levelling up and collecting Skill Points.

Despite the Star Wars gambling games controversy, Battlefront devotees would still be able to access all classes and type of vehicles through different cards and levels. Additionally, the game has been revived with some new heroes and unusual perks. New heroes feature the main star, Anakin Skywalker, the Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi, the disenchanted with the Jedis, Sith Lord Count Dooku, and General Grievous, a merciless plotter on the Jedi team. A new version of the game has been launched out during the current autumn season. Stars and Baddies on Starfighter pursuit missions around and about the map. If any additional changes take place due to the Battlefront 2 gambling controversy we will be the first ones to notify you so keep an eye on the blog!

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