Several months ago, iOS platform holder Apple updated its guidelines regarding loot boxes in games. The new rules regarding the mechanic called for developers and publishers of mobile games to be more transparent, asking them to reveal their loot box odds (i.e. the chances players have to unlock certain in-game items). Although the new policy hasn't been in place for very long, it is already causing some difficulties for even the biggest game creators.

Last week several mobile games, including Nintendo's Fire Emblem Heroes and Square Enix's Final Fantasy Brave Exvius were scheduled to get regular updates. However, while these updates went live on Android, players on iOS were notified that the iOS versions of those updates had been delayed as a result of unexpected issues with the operating system. Although the messages from the publishers did not explicitly state that Apple's new rules about games with loot boxes are to blame, those games include randomized loot mechanics and it is believed that the loot box rules have only just become enforceable.

It should be noted that some of the games with delayed loot boxes do already disclose their loot box odds, Fire Emblem Heroes for example, tells players their chances of getting certain rated characters. Though, the problem may be that these disclosures do not go far enough. Players of games with loot boxes have pointed out games that detail the drop rates for individual items have been fine, whereas games that only reveal drop rates for overall categories (e.g Featured Summons) are running into trouble.

The loot box rules will be a hurdle for games that don't already properly disclose their odds and they will have to make changes to their games or stop releasing updates (on iOS, at least). Some may be thinking that by disclosing their loot box odds, players will be less inclined to spend money on the randomized unlock mechanics. For example, Fire Emblem Heroes made over $5 million in just one week off of the back of random unlocks, but would players avoid spending money if they know how slim their chances of unlocking certain characters really are?

Despite the slight delay in the updates, on social media, players seem to be delighted that Apple is actually enforcing the rules. The debate about loot boxes in games has been raging on for quite some time, but many seem happy with Apple's approach to making loot box-based business models a little bit more transparent.

Source: Resetera