The latest video game by Electronic Arts and DICE, "Star Wars Battlefront II" is currently under heavy criticism due to the loot crates mechanic, which allows players to buy boxes that contain randomized in-game goods. This is something that video game critics hate, ever since the pre-reviews, but now the developers could be facing a much bigger problem — which is illegal gambling allegations.
In a report by Engadget, the local authorities in Belgium whose main focus is gambling have turned their attention to "Star Wars Battlefront II" and the loot crates. As it turns out, the authorities have associated the loot crates with gambling due to their random contents that can be simply accessed with money. Due to the nature of this virtual transaction, it is now being classified as another form of gambling — which has similar mechanics.
The Belgian authorities have also expressed that children are very likely to play "Star Wars Battlefront II," which makes the "gambling" element of the game more dangerous since it is similar to opening the minds of these children on gambling at a very young age. Due to these reasons, there is now a possibility that authorities could ban the game from the country.
It is important to mention that multiple nations across Europe, the U.S., and Australia have addressed the same issue as well.
According to the Guardian, the loot crates system has also alerted gambling regulators in Australia. As of now, the authorities are deliberating if the online transactions in "Star Wars Battlefront II" is a direct violation of any of the country's gambling laws — especially since the game has a strong tendency to force players into making loot crates purchases just so that they can advance in the game.
In Hawaii, state representatives Chris Lee and Sean Quinlan have publicly addressed the issue as well, according to Polygon. Both Lee and Quinlan feel that the mechanics "resemble casinos," and have moved that the matter should be investigated immediately. The developers have not yet responded to these allegations, however, they have suspended the loot crates system due to the backlash that it has been receiving since the game's release.
