This article was originally written for TheNintendoVillage.com, a website I founded and ran from 2018 to 2021.

Back in 2018 the ESRB started warning of microtransactions in their ratings, and they’ve now gone a step further and will be making it clear whether or not those in-game purchases include loot boxes.

The new label - “In-Game Purchases (Includes Random Items)” will be given to any games that:

“…contains in-game offers to purchase digital goods or premiums with real world currency (or with virtual coins or other forms of in-game currency that can be purchased with real world currency) for which the player doesn’t know prior to purchase the specific digital goods or premiums they will be receiving.”

The new label comes after feedback from consumers that they wanted more information on the type of in-game purchases included in games, and the ESRB note that despite parental concerns obviously being a factor, the feedback came mostly from ‘consumers and enthusiasts’.

A little extra transparency is always welcome when it comes to these things. Let us know your thoughts down in the comments.

Source: ESRB