ESRB Commits to Microtransaction Label
ESRB has today announced that it plans to label any game featuring microtransactions, assigning a new label "In-Game Purchases".
It follows on from what Google and Apple have been doing in their respective app stores, alerting you to apps that will feature transactions within. The tweet is below if you want to read the nitty-gritty:
An update on in-game purchases from your friends at ESRB: pic.twitter.com/pqmfJe0Ywz
— ESRB (@ESRBRatings) 27 February 2018
Gamers' have been crying out for some form of identification for these types of games, particularly as the growth of what has been labelled as "gambling" has taken ahold in the industry. This article from 2014 shows the profits that could be seen, even back then. Even Kanye West hates microtransations.
Here's hoping other rating providers follow suite.
COMMENTS
Wensleydale - 10:10pm, 1st March 2018
Jim Sterling was pretty scathing about this. It's like they think putting a label on something that tells customers it's full of toxic crap somehow excuses them from making products that are full of toxic crap. "Buying this may reduce you to a state of miserable penury, but at least we did you the courtesy of letting you know beforehand. Because we care."
Livin in a box - 04:01pm, 2nd March 2018 Author
Yeah I saw it, but whilst money is still being made with these practices they're still going to be put in. People shouldn't be looking to game ratings, which most people ignore anyway, to educate them about loot boxes or similar. In my humble opinion, anyway...