Buying a new PlayStation game used to be pretty easy. You paid your money, downloaded your game (or put the disc in if you’re old school), and that was it. You might buy an expansion or other downloadable content, but you knew exactly what you were paying for.
But modern gaming has started to change that equation.
Lots of the biggest PlayStation titles now have their own virtual economies… with special currencies, seasonal content and random rewards. A game could cost you £60 or more… and you’ll still be asked if you want to spend more money on items – some that you can’t even see before you buy them.
And that’s where loot boxes enter the picture.
It’s simple enough. You buy a virtual box without actually knowing what’s inside it. It could be something simply cosmetic, useful for the game or something to collect… it’s all down to chance.
For PlayStation players, it’s created quite the uncomfortable question: when does an in-game purchase stop being a straightforward purchase and start looking a bit more like gambling?
Well, European regulators and consumer organisations still haven’t reached an agreement.
Why Loot Boxes are Different from Ordinary DLC
There is an obvious difference between buying an expansion from the PlayStation Store and just buying a random reward.
If you buy an expansion, you know exactly what you’re getting. The same goes for a new character skin or a weapon that’s been advertised individually.
A loot box completely removes that certainty. You’re paying for something from a predetermined pool… a lucky dip, if you like, and you don’t know what you’re going to get.
And because it can be exciting for some players, it’s attracted regulatory attention.
It all gets even more complicated when games have their own currencies. Rather than paying the €2/£2 directly for a loot box, you might need to buy their virtual currency and then spend some of that on the random reward.
By the time you’ve opened the box, you don’t even know how much real money it actually cost you.
The Norwegian Consumer Council’s Insert Coin investigation has examined how it all works in detail, working alongside more than 20 European consumer organisations. And its loot-box report has raised several concerns about things like unclear probabilities, virtual currencies and using techniques that can encourage people to keep spending money.
The PlayStation Store Has Changed the Relationship Between Games and Spending
This isn’t simply about loot boxes popping up here and there in a few games.
The PlayStation Store means players can buy all sorts – not just games but expansions, cosmetic items, season passes and virtual currency without even having to step away from the screen. It’s part of a much wider change in the way PlayStation games are now being monetised – with both PlayStation and Xbox rethinking their approach as regulation starts coming into play. There are spending opportunities going for months or even years after a game has been launched.
From the industry’s perspective, it makes perfect sense… games are continually being updated and developed, but for players the experience can be rather different.
It used to be:
“Do I want to buy this game?”
Now you also have to ask:
“How much more am I going to spend on it once I’ve bought it?”
And loot boxes are right there waiting to be bought…
It’s Chance That Changes the Whole Conversation
Not every random reward is necessarily gambling. If you earn a random weapon after completing a mission, that’s nothing like making a bet. You’re not spending more money and it’s all part of the progression.
It all becomes a bit more complicated when real money starts to enter the equation.
A PlayStation player might buy a pack because there’s a chance it contains a character, skin or item they want. They might get it, but they might not get it… so they buy another pack. And another. And another.
The whole thing is built around this uncertainty… which is why consumer groups have started to question whether the existing gambling and consumer-protection rules are enough right now.
There’s also a psychological element. There’s the excitement and anticipation before you open the box; the animation, sound effects and the whole reveal sequence. It’s not just purchasing a box, it’s practically an event!
It doesn’t necessarily make it gambling, but it does make the comparison hard to ignore.
Norway Has Already Taken the Issue Seriously
For PlayStation players, Norway is a very interesting example of where the whole loot-box debate can lead. The Norwegian Consumer Council was at the front and centre of the European discussion after it led the 2020 Insert Coin investigation into loot boxes – alongside around 20 European consumer organisations. The report specifically examined randomised rewards, virtual currencies and behavioural design, and, on the back of it, called for stronger consumer protection.
Norway’s whole approach to gambling makes it an interesting comparison too. The Norwegian Gambling and Foundation Authority oversees a system in which Norsk Tipping and Norsk Rikstoto hold gambling and horse-racing monopolies. Players following how these issues develop can also find independent information through sites such as the comparison site Kongebonus.
But loot boxes create a whole new question for PlayStation and other console games. If a player pays real money for a reward that’s determined purely by chance, should we be treating it like ordinary downloadable content, or should the fact that there’s the extra element of chance afford us more protections?
Where Does PlayStation Draw the Line?
For now, in Europe, the debate remains unresolved. But the direction it’s going in is becoming clearer. Regulators are starting to pay more attention to the way games try to make us spend money, and consumer organisations want more transparency.
For PlayStation players, it could eventually mean you get more information before you make an in-game purchase, stronger protections… especially for younger users, and a clearer system in general.