Over the years, EA has gotten into a lot of legal trouble due to its frequent use of in-game loot boxes for titles like Star Wars Battlefront 2 and a number of its popular sports games. It seems the company has been drawn into yet another legal battle, with the Dutch government looking to fine the company for up to €5 Million due to its use of loot boxes in FIFA.
The country announced it would look to enforce the fine earlier this month, with the Dutch Government revealing to EA that it will have to remove its FIFA Ultimate Team packs from FIFA 19, 20, and 21 in the Netherlands. If the company refuses, it will be fined a weekly charge of €250,000, eventually reaching up to €5 Million.
The gaming publisher has appealed the fine, with EA Benelux revealing in a statement that it disagrees loot boxes are "in conflict with the local gambling laws," and it doesn't want to inflict any changes that will hinder the "full possibilities of Dutch players in FIFA Ultimate Team." It claims that it's still open to having discussions with the Dutch Government about resolving the conflict in a way that appeases both parties. This comes after the Netherlands enforced stricter laws on loot boxes in 2018, with the Dutch government deciding the practice was a form of gambling.
Of course, this is merely the latest in a long string of legal battles surrounding loot boxes for the publisher over the years. The company was met with a similar case earlier this month, as Mark Sutherland and Shawn Moore filed a class-action lawsuit against EA due to loot boxes being deemed an "illegal gambling system." The company was also hit for its approach to loot boxes back when Star Wars Battlefront 2 released in 2017, with many seeing the game's microtransactions as egregious pay-to-win mechanics that encouraged gambling.
For those who don't play FIFA, Ultimate Team sees users purchase packs of randomized players who they can assemble into a personal squad. It's one of the game's most popular, long-standing modes, with a lot of younger fans building up their in-game teams to play against their friends. It has been a concern for years that Ultimate Team could be seen as pushing gambling to minors, especially with EA coming under fire for endorsing the mode in a UK magazine aimed towards young audiences.
Source: EA Benelux (via IGN)