Apple’s new policy forces any games with “loot boxes” to disclose the odds of what they offer, a huge change that impacts the biggest iOS games.
Apple made a crucial change to the language of its App Store guidelines this week.
The change states that all games must disclose odds related to items earned from so-called “loot boxes” — a mechanism for rewarding players with valuable in-game items.
The concept of “loot boxes” has been a controversial one in gaming this year, and Apple is making a strong statement by forcing this change.
In one sentence, Apple enacted a massive change that impacts the biggest iPhone games and iPhone game makers: “Apps offering ‘loot boxes’ or other mechanisms that provide randomized virtual items for purchase must disclose the odds of receiving each type of item to customers prior to purchase.”
Many of the top games on the iPhone, from “Hearthstone” to “Clash Royale,” use loot boxes.
Tech: Apple just enacted a massive change for all apps — and it affects every game that charges money for ‘loot boxes’
