Take-Two Interactive video game cards for Xbox consoles for sale at a store in Louisville, Kentucky, US. on Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022. Loot boxes have been controversial in the gaming industry in recent years, with critics charging that the in-game purchases can amount to gambling and tempt kids into overspending. — Bloomberg
Take-Two Interactive Software Inc is facing a class-action lawsuit over the deceptive sale of loot boxes to minors in its popular NBA 2K video game series.
One of its recent iterations of the basketball game franchise, NBA 2K21, has sold more than 10 million copies and some two million people played the game daily last year, according to the company’s latest annual report. The game costs US$59.99 (RM251) and players can spend additional money on in-game currency they use to upgrade a player’s clothing or receive new players.
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Take-Two Interactive video game cards for Xbox consoles for sale at a store in Louisville, Kentucky, US. on Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022. Loot boxes have been controversial in the gaming industry in recent years, with critics charging that the in-game purchases can amount to gambling and tempt kids into overspending. — Bloomberg
A Take-Two Interactive NBA2K22 video game for Xbox consoles for sale at a store in Louisville, Kentucky, US. — Bloomberg
The lawsuit, filed on behalf of a minor and her guardian, contends that these loot boxes ‘psychologically distance’ players from the real-life financial implications of in-game purchases and the transactions are particularly attractive to minors who may not understand the real-world implications of spending virtual currency. What’s more, the transactions are often done with a parent’s credit card and the minors are generally unaware that their purchase is non-refundable, according to the case. — Bloomberg
A Take-Two Interactive NBA2K22 video game for Xbox consoles for sale at a store in Louisville, Kentucky, US. NBA 2K21 was one of the largest contributors to Take-Two’s digitally-delivered net bookings, which totalled US$3.1bil (RM12.97bil) in fiscal 2021. — Bloomberg
