Nintendo removes 2 more games due to Belgium gambling laws

In 2018, the Belgian Gaming Commission (BGC) banned the presence of loot boxes in video games. These virtual treasure troves have become a normal part of mobile game monetisation, with many PC and console games now following suite. The controversy began when Star Wars Battlefront II added loot boxes to the game which incentivized players to make heavy investments in a game that already cost $60.

This led to a five-month investigation into Battlefront II as well as three other games that used loot boxes. They were FIFA 18, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and Overwatch. Three of those games were found guilty of contravening the Belgian gambling legislation with Battlefront II only missing the mark because loot boxes were removed from the game entirely. The developers of the offending titles have since changed their games or removed them entirely as Nintendo now plans to do with its games.

Loot boxes exist as a game of chance within the larger game, thereby constituting a gamble or risk of losing real-world monetary value. Considering video games are played by children as well as adults, their presence exposes minors to emotional profit expectation. Failure to comply with the Commission’s ruling will result in fines and even the possibility of jail time.

Nintendo will remove Fire Emblem Heroes and Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp in Belgium after the 27th August 2019. Users will no longer be able to play as well as download the game after the date. The company also states that any future games they produce which include any form of loot box system would not be released in Belgium.

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