EA is once again the most hated company in the world, at least in the millions strong community of internet-able gamers, after the publishing giant made a statement to British parliament about loot boxes. Apparently, it doesn't see them as problematic, analogous to gaming, or encouraging of addictive behaviours. As far as EA sees it, loot boxes are merely a "surprise mechanic," comparing them to Kinder Eggs, or Hatchimals.
It even had the gall to call its Fifa Ultimate Team packs, perhaps the most egregious of EA's loot box mechanics, "quite ethical and quite fun."
While these mechanics might feel, "quite fun," the ethics of loot boxes have been called into question repeatedly in the past couple of years. We've seen countries and states ban the practice entirely, while other countries force providers to offer odds for earning certain rewards so that gamers are more informed about the practice.
EA and other publishers, like Take Two, have been pushing hard against these enforcement and regulatory actions, however, suggesting that there's nothing insidious about asking someone to pay for a random outcome, whether it's with real money, or in-game currency.
When it came to the concerns of gambling and children, EA made it clear that it doesn't condone children using its "surprise mechanics," claiming instead that it was the job of Microsoft and Sony to police the age range of those using their consoles. This, despite the fact that all recent FIFA games, of which most include the Ultimate Team loot box system, are rated as PEGI 3+ games.
Perhaps EA would prefer it if they were made 18+ because of the gambling mechanics in them?
