Jump directly to the content
LOVE LOOT

We are stuck with loot boxes so here are the positives and negatives

Does anyone really enjoy spending money on FIFA packs?

A gateway too gambling or a harmless addition to a game?

Whether we like it or not loot boxes have become a staple part of every triple-A-title.

With the likes of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, FIFA and Team Fortress 2 leading the way, loot boxes began to be popularised as a good way to keep audiences ‘playing’ and ‘paying’.

CS: GO were one of the first games to introduce loot boxes

6
CS: GO were one of the first games to introduce loot boxes

Now, years later and Call of Duty, Star Wars Battlefront II, Battlefield, Overwatch and more are utilising loot boxes in-game to further monetise consumers.

Are loot boxes as bad as everyone makes out?

According to the French, no.

ARJEL, the French regulatory body recently decided that loot boxes are not a form of gambling, as the contents don’t hold a real-world value.

Star Wars: Battlefront II received backlash from fans over monetisation within the game

6
Star Wars: Battlefront II received backlash from fans over monetisation within the game

This is true, and the majority of loot boxes are purely cosmetic not affecting gameplay.

They sometimes allow you to skip out the long grinding hours to get certain gear, but again it’s optional!

The developers at games like Overwatch see loot boxes as a good thing, with fans opinions varying.

Mass Effect 3 contained loot boxes at launch in 2012

6
Mass Effect 3 contained loot boxes at launch in 2012

The instant gratification you get from spending a bit of cash to receive a rare exotic in-game item can be worth it.

Especially when you are pumping hours into a game every day (up those rookie numbers).

Yes, loot boxes are as bad as everyone makes out

Rare items and exotic cosmetics are really quite vein.

Overwatch loot boxes are purely cosmetic and don’t affect in-game play

6
Overwatch loot boxes are purely cosmetic and don’t affect in-game play

Their purpose is to show off to other players that you can either afford lots of boxes to get the items you want or that you are extremely lucky.

Some games, notably Call of Duty, allow you to receive unique weapons from loot boxes which can give you a clear advantage in-game.

Players who don’t buy loot boxes can fall behind, making a game pay-to-win.

Shadow of War controversially introduced loot boxes into their single player title

6
Shadow of War controversially introduced loot boxes into their single player title

Shadow of War, a Warner Bros title, sparked a debate over the necessity of loot boxes in open world single player games… the conclusion? There isn’t.

Even the developers admitted that the ability to pay money to align with Orc leaders ruined the game, announcing the removal of loot boxes this May.

Call of Duty, now infamous for its loot boxes

6
Call of Duty, now infamous for its loot boxes

Loot boxes in games are, like many things, now a necessary evil that we will have to live with.

Love em or hate em, you can decide whether to spend the cash.