EA and Respawn criticised for Apex Legends’ Iron Crown loot boxes

Once more, EA is caught up in a loot box controversy. The game in question this time is Apex Legends and its new Iron Crown loot boxes that just hit the game yesterday. 

The new event brings to the game 24 cosmetic items for players to unlock, with only two provided for free after completing challenges. The issue isn't just that players cannot get these items without spending real money, but also that it costs about 700 Apex Coins ($7) per box to get three Iron Crown items.

In situations like these, players always compare the offending game's practices to that of others. The favourite in this case is Overwatch which has a higher probability of players unlocking special event items and the fact that they don't need to buy loot boxes to get them. They can just continue to play as normal and they will receive the special loot boxes during the event's duration. 

These items do not particularly add any in-game advantage, but it does keep the game looking fresh, so it's understandable that many would like to get their hands on these outfits, weapon skins and other items. 

The Apex Legends official Reddit is full of debates for and against this new move by EA and Respawn, with some putting the blame solely on the publisher while others defend the pricing. It's a hot topic and neither Respawn nor EA have commented yet. If the situation worsens, the developer and publisher will surely have to do something about it, but if many fans are willing to accept the price as it is, then this loot box practice might be here to stay in Apex Legends for the foreseeable future.