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Games industry ripping off children?

We mentioned late last week about how loot boxes in games should have gambling warnings especially when it comes to games that are targetted at children. Games such as Overwatch are one of the many games that offer loot boxes that you can either earn in-game by playing or by purchasing them using real money which can often lead to addiction trying to get what you want from the loot boxes.

It has now come to light that the gaming industry that is worth around $137.9bn (£110bn) seem to be making their profits by ripping off children. In these games, many children are often pushed into not only playing the game to earn the loot boxes but in pure desperation to get something rare will also put money into the games until they get what they want which can often run into not only the $100's but also the $1000's just for one person. Many children have said that spending money in games is what makes the game fun to play with others openly saying that they believe video games try to make them spend as much money as they can.

Worldwide gamers were said to have spent $30bn on loot boxes in games with that figure predicted to rise to around $50bn within the next 5 years.

This is an extortionate amount just to be spending on games for something that is only cosmetic in a game and when it comes to children they don't always know better and often do not understand the consequences of continuously spending money to 'try' and gain an item in-game.

Some countries have already restricted access to loot boxes in games or classed them as gambling to raise awareness, these Countries are Belgium, the Netherlands, and China.

With the way games have changed in the last 5 - 10 years and with loot boxes and purchasing of in-game content has become more popular it does seem like it is time to start warning people not just in the Countries already mentioned but also in other countries around the world before it is too late.

What are your thoughts on the targetting of children in online video games? Should a warning have been pushed out there long before now?

Only time will tell just how much damage has been done to children who have been exposed to this kind of target, unfortunately it may be too late for some.
 
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