Star Wars: Battlefront 2's Loot Boxes "Are Not Gambling," EA Says

"The crate mechanics of Star Wars Battlefront II are not gambling. A player’s ability to succeed in the game is not dependent on purchasing crates."

Last I checked, people could choose to work for money or gamble for it IRL too. It's still gambling. And as far as I can tell, the current formula for selling loot crates involve making them game harder and longer to play in order to maximize costs.

It's not always gambling if you get something for your money. Most games that involve cost to pay or in-app/in-game purchases aren't classed as gambling. I think it needs to be completely involve money at both ends of a winning or losing transaction for it to be classed as 'gambling'.

They said it is not gambling, because the loot boxes will reward the player with something regardless if the player wants it, it is similiar to the concept like playing poker in casino, u lose money and then they give u a chocolate bar as a consolation prize, then it is not gambling !? what a bullcrap!

Despite the reward of loot box is not real money, but if the reward is something people will desperately want to buy/spend in order to acquire it regardless of any purposes, then it has a value.

u get random chances to unlock something from loot boxes, then it is called gambling !

It is gambling. You pay money and randomly win. It's gambling no matter what you win. A virtual helmet, gun or cosmetic things for your character...

It's sad to see reading through some of these comments that people are actually defending EA lol what a sad day.

It's not gambling, you're still getting something for your money. It's like those little toy machines, that are set up by the gumball machines at supermarkets/corner stores. You put a quarter or two in the machine and hope it's a toy you want, is that gambling?

Th "alure" of the gamble comes from gaining something that matters. Overwatch doesn't really matter, for the lootbox setup, because you already have access to everything that everyone else does. We're all on the same playing field. Cosmetics don't change much.

BF2, on the other hand, gives actual bonuses, characters, enhanced powers, characters and gameplay changes (like playing as a Jedi). These things change the way the game is played, thus, becoming a draw to the individual.

Even ME's MP crates were gambling. Why they didn't get much hate, I don't know, but what ever. Anything that leads to the abolishment of loot boxes has my vote.

I have to admit im enjoying all this controversy. If this loot box thing goes south on the Industry hooray! But my sympathies to any game devs who may be negatively affected by it. Except the suits they dont need sympathy cuz all the golden showers they get.

The game should probably be rebranded as for adults only of legal gambling age. It's so wrong that the ESRB gave it a Teen rating.

It's sad and disgusting to see that so many people are now responsible for giving minors access to gambling, which is illegal.

I did not have relations with that woman

"It's not gambling because your success in the game does not depend on it." Great explanation. Maybe they should let the gambling commission decide since what they say actually matters. If they say it's gambling then EA's views on it are irrelevant.

Technically it’s not gambling since you can still play the game. If you go into a casino or betting shop to play any game you need to spend money first. You don’t do this with Battlefront 2. However this loot crate system is a clear money grabbing scheme and eventually word of mouth from the gamers that know will make it’s way to the masses to the point where everyone knows and will want no part of it.

You enter a casino - you getting one free drink and 100 of free chips to kick off your playing night as you are first time visiting. Means - you are guaranteed to play same "game" as people who bought their chips after failing to win with 100 of free chips. Winning is dependedned on a chance, totally controlled digitally NOT mechanically. (means it can be rigged)

Isn't it same what is happening with loot crates in SWBF2? What is it if not GAMBLING!?

Good games with this kind of system should be marked as GAMBLING and devs should pay extra fee's . Also Parrents won't buy games marked as gambling for kids pretty much.

IMO, the likening of lootcrates to collectable cards is ridiculous. The only way this BS should be okay is if they can promise (which is impossible) that the game (be it Star Trek Online, Star Wars TOR, SW:Battlefront II, etc.) will always be available. How about these guys can do micro-transactions IF they keep the game functioning in some capacity. Too many times, people get screwed when a game shuts down. For me, I've now been screwed over by City of Heroes, Star Wars Galaxies, and today- Marvel Heroes.

If in five to fifteen years, it becomes impossible to play SW: Battlefront 2s multiplayer, which could happen when new consoles and online services become available in the future, then any loot packs people buy now become null and void. Collectable cards don't vanish over time, but these digital items do.

Also, saying to simply not buy the packs never works. Some people have gambling addictions, and when you literally have to only click two buttons to purchase a randomized pack, it enables that addiction. I know from personal experience. I don't want to say how much I've spent on these things over the years, but it's a lot. I don't want to, but it's hard to stop when there's that one item I want.

It's not gambling by the strict definition of the term, but it's gambling in spirit. If the box has a chance of giving you items worth less than the cost of the loot box, I consider it gambling even if the law doesn't. Only if you're pedantic with words would you argue otherwise.

You have a small chance of getting something highly valuable but a big chance of getting junk you don't want. You roll the dice hoping to get the valuable item but probably won't. That's as close to gambling as you're going to get.

If McDonald's offered a "McCrate of Food" for $2 that could contain a Double Cheeseburger, Small Drink, or Ten Quarter Pounders with Cheese, every time you buy one you're gambling because the value of the goods inside the box is different, and only random chance dictated the value.

Did you buy something in which the value is randomly generated?

THEN IT'S GAMBLING

If only the US would investigate this too. That might actually hurt their sales and get them to back down on this disgusting practice.

So is this EA's attempt to slowly start turning Star Wars into Star Trek Online?

imo there is no way out from this, SW is a special franchise with a strong fan base and EA knows that and tries to milk every penny from it. Most of gamers, mature ones, even old ones have strong feelings and memories about SW, they will buy this game even if they don't spend any money on star cards or loot boxes ... is like to are going to cinema to see a SW movie and at the end of the film Luke and Vader starts to fight, the scene is blured and ad tells that you need to pay more 20 bucks to unlock the scene ... after all, Darth Vader infamous replica will appear on screen : "Luke, I am your father" (or "Look, i am your father but i don't give a sh*t !!!").

@indigoj: Walking into a casino is optional too. But they're still heavily regulated.

@indigoj: I'm not sure that alone is enough to not make it gambling. You can "earn" money in most developed countries by sitting at home and collecting welfare, but it's still gambling to buy a lottery ticket and try to earn extra money, faster.

The slot machines of our casinos are not gambling. A player’s ability to succeed in life is not dependent on playing the slots. Players can also earn money through having jobs and not spend any money on the casino at all.

How deep are they gonna dig this grave?