The controversy over the loot box system of the recently released video game "Star Wars Battlefront II" continues to grow as another political figure gives his take on the matter. He called out the game and its possibility of being a gateway toward more serious issues of gambling.
French Senator Jerome Durain wrote an open letter to ARJEL, the independent French agency monitoring online gambling in the country, urging them to address the matter.
The senator started on a positive note in his letter, praising the trend in video games, and e-sports in particular. He called the industry economically dynamic and noted that it is a "positive contribution to the country."
However, the senator urged the agency to vigilantly follow the rapid evolution that the industry is undergoing. "Some observers point to a convergence of the video game world and practices specific to gambling," said the politician.
Durain also emphasized the importance of consumer protection in regulating video game practices. "The use of loot boxes conferring cosmetic additions to the games seems well-accepted by the public," the senator noted. "The development of so-called pay-to-win practices is more contentious, as shown by the recent controversy over the game Star Wars Battlefront 2."
The loot box system of "Star Wars Battlefront II" has caused a huge controversy since Electronic Arts released the title on early access. The backlash that the game received from fans as a result of the system has caused a number of regulatory bodies to take a look at the game to determine if the loot box system constitutes gambling.
Last week, the gambling authority of Belgium decided that the game's loot box system was indeed a form of gambling and advised the entire European Union to ban it.
"Mixing gambling and gaming, especially at a young age, is dangerous for the mental health of the child," said Belgian Minister of Justice Koen Geens.
U.K.'s gambling commission, on the other hand, decided that the loot boxes do not fall under illegal gambling operations in the country. In the U.S., the Entertainment Software Rating Board said the system does not constitute gambling based on their criteria.
