840°

EA: They’re not loot boxes, they’re “surprise mechanics,” and they’re “quite ethical”

Kerry Hopkins, EA’s VP of legal and government affairs, insists that the company’s randomised purchases aren’t loot boxes, but rather “surprise mechanics.”

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pcgamesn.com
-Foxtrot1773d ago

Like I honestly thought this was a joke article...is she f****** high because I want some of that shit

Nitrowolf21773d ago (Edited 1773d ago )

“Instead we think it’s like many other products that people enjoy in a healthy way, and like the element of surprise.”

Imagine being the person that said this. “Haha jokes on you, I was only pretending to be.....”

This is literally an excuse you can use on anything. In what way though is it healthy to get people hooked on a system of randomized chance?

If they’re going to make claims that it’s healthy at least back it up with proof. There’s plenty enough evidence out there though to show people can get addicted to the point it can be harmful

Old McGroin1773d ago (Edited 1773d ago )

@ Foxtrot

Same here, saw it earlier on reddit and thought it was an Onion article! The lads over at EA really shouldn't get high on their own supply as often as they seem to.

harmny1773d ago

So you are asking for drugs on a public forum

Muzikguy1773d ago (Edited 1773d ago )

@harmny

Yes 🤦🏼‍♂️😒

rainslacker1772d ago

EA was going to go a month without causing controversy, but then they got high?

UltraNova1772d ago

Damn, the mental gymnastics EA's legal team goes through is nothing short of "Breathtaking!!".

EA can go F*** themselves for all I care.

Army_of_Darkness1772d ago (Edited 1772d ago )

@harmny "So you are asking for drugs on a public forum"

Are... You.... Really... Serious right now?? Omg, lmfao! That is what you got out of all these sarcastic, jokey comments??

+ Show (5) more repliesLast reply 1772d ago
SyntheticForm1773d ago

They're clearly frustrated though, and it's a great thing to see. Their recent games haven't been received well, and EA are being relentlessly trashed. They 'are' feeling the heat and this frustrated statement proves it.

This Jedi Order game is one more to avoid.

1773d ago
Zenbaby3691773d ago

@Butt No such thing as bad publicity? I really don't think that applies here. Sure, if EA was a company no one knew about, bad publicity might be good to put them in the spotlight. I mean, look at MJ...bad publicity exists man.

JackBNimble1772d ago

Are you going to stop supporting this shit or just get mad and continue to buy EA games?

remixx1161772d ago

@Butt

I laugh at people who believe that statement if yours.

Go tell MS that back in 2013 during the Xbox one reveal and let's see the response you get.

0hMyGandhi1772d ago (Edited 1772d ago )

I'm just surprised that EA hasn't yet released their own brand of "gaming cigarettes".

1772d ago
+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 1772d ago
Leeroyw1773d ago (Edited 1773d ago )

The. Worst. How does she say that with a straight face?
"oh it's not rape.... It's a... 'cuddle struggle'.
Just the worst.

Edit: just saw strayanalog's comment. Snap.

SierraGuy1773d ago

When other developers are starting to offer free DLC these clowns are defending their stupid gouging practices.

Muzikguy1773d ago

I can't believe this was said by EA. Wow

rainslacker1772d ago

I can't imagine it being said by anyone else. At least seriously and with a straight face.

rainslacker1772d ago

They're not the worst. They're the best at being terrible.

Crazyglues1772d ago

They really are a Surprise Mechanic.... "Surprise MotherFu*___, you just got robbed..." ...LMAO..

I'm sorry the Internet got me messed up --> https://www.youtube.com/wat...

sander97021772d ago

It's not even a gaming company anymore it's just a place for shareholders to make money.

Tear1111772d ago

They are switching the name but same but same structure...

They changed BF private game into Rent service
And now they want to do the same from changing the lootbox name into Suprise mechanics

Will EA if you brought a water and change it name into (Soul regeneration) it still the same water no matter what name yiu choose to name it.

Loot box or suprise or what ever the thing you do is killing the industry not the name 😒

+ Show (6) more repliesLast reply 1772d ago
strayanalog1773d ago

By that reasoning, rape is surprise sex.

RpgSama1773d ago

Sir or Miss, you win the internet for the Day!!!

LOL!!!!

Wow, I thought it was a joke article, but they are very much serious, wow

SkatterBrain1773d ago

LOL that ish made me Laugh soo Hard

harmny1773d ago

yes. because rape victims have the abilty to choose when to get raped

crazyCoconuts1773d ago

Won't somebody PLEASE think of the children?

Steveoreno11772d ago

I'm getting a lot of laughs from your comments. Keep up the good work.

Muzikguy1773d ago

Yup! EA are so delusional. I can't believe they don't see it

Benjaminkno1772d ago

I literally put an analogy like that in my head, and I was thinking “no, that type of comparison wouldn’t go over well here” and then I see you don’t have one dislike..

Ah, what the hell, I’ll do it..
😬

strayanalog1772d ago

Well I thank you for putting things back on an even keel, Benjaminkno. In that way, you truly are the duck tape of this site: you have a light side, a dark side, and manage to hold it all together.

Hopefully it doesn't throw everything off, but your comment deserves a like.

AmUnRa1772d ago

I spilled my coffee al over the table...This is so true😂

FBNS1772d ago

I've been saying this all over YouTube 🤣

Atanasrikard1772d ago

Really? Comparing an optional item that you choose to participate in... to rape? Your reasoning is horribly flawed and it is really sad that you have so many agreeing with you.

spicelicka1772d ago

It's not a comparison though. It's just an exaggerated mockery of the flawed reasoning, like when you say "if so and so jumps off a bridge you would do it too?". I mean that's death, it's not any less serious than rape.

Atanasrikard1772d ago

@spicelicka

It is a direct comparison. If this means this, then this means this. If, then is a comparative statement. Where do you get death from jumping off a bridge? That statement is about someone's ability to think for themselves. Either way, you are comparing the same thing, death, in your scenario. So and so's death and your death. If you want to do it right, if so and so jumps from the last step of the staircase, you would stick a gun in your mouth and pull the trigger.

This is my problem, he is conflating something he doesn't like as akin to a horrible crime being committed against another person. It's flawed reasoning. It is Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez levels of stupid.

DaDrunkenJester1772d ago

If you're seriously comparing lootboxes to rape then you have some issues.

StoneyYoshi1772d ago (Edited 1772d ago )

@ DaDrunkenJester
You are taking his comment way too literally. His point was comparing the fact that renaming something thats bad to sound good doesn't make it any better....

Lootboxes are a cancer to the gaming industry. I personally believe that these kinds of practices should only be allowed in F2P games since thats basically the only way those games can make money.

Ricegum1772d ago

Trust DrunkenJester to take it literally.

Bleucrunch1772d ago

there always has to be one of "those" types and here were are not dissapointed @DaDrunkenJester is that type. You know full well what was meant by that comment but you just had to be the one to go there...

Kran1772d ago (Edited 1772d ago )

Kind... of?

I mean you don't press a button and get surprise rape sex like you do to press a button and get random loot boxes. You can choose to buy one.

I'm not condoning EA in any way and what she says in the article is bull. But I'm just saying about your comment...

1772d ago
Kran1772d ago

@Tiqila

It's not that I understand it, it's just that it's an over exaggeration.

EliteComments1231772d ago

LMFAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

+ Show (9) more repliesLast reply 1772d ago
robtion1773d ago

Seriously though, it's not an invasion, it's a 'pre-emptive counter attack'. ;)

lodossrage1773d ago

And there will still be people both defending and buying from this company.....

harmny1773d ago

well if people stop buying from EA thousands of developers will be fired and then it will be even worse.

StormLegend1772d ago

I would gladly sacrifice those developers to make EA, EA again!! I miss the 90's

RizBiz1772d ago

Who will then go on to open new studios and create games that are actually worth our time. Sounds like a win-win scenario.

jznrpg1772d ago (Edited 1772d ago )

They keep firing devs anyway because people aren’t buying enough of their games besides their sports stuff. They can work at other companies or open new studios and use the lessons of working at a place like EA to be successful

Eulderink1772d ago (Edited 1772d ago )

lel, if they do that it has nothing to do with lootboxes, but more about EA being EA.
gaming did fine before and they will do fine regardless. This is just like an atm that gives u free money.
it's sucks when it's gone but you didn't need it anyway.

trooper_1772d ago

Well maybe this would be a wakeup call for them.

Stop treating people like idiots.

Antifan1770d ago

I seriously think this should happen. Break up this terrible company, and the Star Wars license will be released to other studios. This is the best thing that can happen with EA.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 1770d ago
lodossrage1772d ago

that's a ridiculous way to looking at things. "Let's keep supporting the predatory company because people will lose their jobs otherwise".

Dude, no. Then they look for other positions at other companies. And not for nothing, but I'm pretty sure they know what EA is all about when they go apply for positions there. So unless their studios have been acquired, they don't get to use that defense. And even then, start applying other places.

RizBiz1772d ago

jukins5h ago
Eh plenty of parents buying their kids surprise eggs surprise lol doll containers, and the thebkid Ryan from youtibe has surprise toys all just like loot boxes no one batting an eye over those

Found one!

Show all comments (201)
100°

Outriders Dev's Next Game Has Been Canceled After Publishing Agreement With Take-Two Fell Through

Outriders developer People Can Fly's next game has been canceled after its publishing agreement with Take-Two Interactive fell through.

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twistedvoxel.com
Tacoboto1d 7h ago

"the capital group of PCF Group S.A."

If you're getting funding from a group that needs two different ways of Acronyming itself, things will not go the way you want them to.

banger881d 2h ago

If it was more online-only crap then good riddance.

jjb198112h ago

Outriders was crap. They slapped that game together and threw in a loot system to get players' attention. This game was absolutely jank and the always online nonsense made it stutter like crazy. People Can't Optimize.

thorstein11h ago

I liked Outriders but I could see where the artistic vision was compromised. The way the industry is now, it wouldn't surprise me that upper management would scrap something that didn't pull in money via gaas, mts, or other means.

280°

Microsoft’s Surface and Xbox hardware revenues take a big hit in Q3

Microsoft just posted the third quarter of its 2024 fiscal financial results. The software maker made $61.9 billion in revenue and a net income of $21.9 billion during Q3. Revenue is up 17 percent, and net income has increased by 20 percent.

Read Full Story >>
theverge.com
darthv721d 5h ago

Xbox content + services up 62% while hardware down 31%... seems about right with the way they tout you don't need the hardware to play. People can play on their phones or smart tv or other means. I don't hardly play on my consoles directly since getting devices like the logitech g-cloud and ps portal. Which is to also say I have been playing more digital than physical because of these devices.

solideagle16h ago

you should apply in MS PR team buddy, I think you will do a great job in my humble opinion :)

Sonic188113h ago

I thought darthv72 and Obscure_Observer already work for Microsoft 🤔

dveio13h ago

MS: "Xbox services and content without AB up 1%, with AB up 62%. Hardware down 31%. In total a loss of 350 mill."

darthv72: "Seems about right."

MS: "Excuse m ..."

darthv72: "I don't hardly play on my consoles directly."

MS:

Lightning778h ago

What he said was facts. How he plays games is no concern of you. Don't get too mad about it.

Cacabunga15h ago

I can tell people like you are an absolute minority..

If service is up means their fans and fanboys accepted this model and subscribed to it. The near future you will see a big decline because the service is saturated.

darthv721h ago

to you it may seem like the minority... but your bubble is shrinking because more and more are following suit. convenience is a hell of a drug and its also why physical sales only amount to 30% of overall game sales. times are changing, you either get with them or you get left behind.

shinoff218314h ago

But that's been ms for years. When things aren't going their way they try to change the way things are said. For instance console sales are down, they stop telling how many sold instead telling us how many hours spent in halo or headshots. So it makes sense console sales down just say people are playing on more devices then previous. What they won't say is how many xbox players jumped ship to ps5.

Cacabunga13h ago

Hardware sales are so bad that Sony and Nintendo are blowing the sales off the water with their hardware.

If Xbox are losers, others aren’t..
Xbox already tried everything with Xbox live then subscriptions went down so much that they had to find something else. Their fans subscribed then reached saturation rather quickly.

Hardware and exclusive games is where it’s at! Keep gamers excited, announce decent software and people will support you

itsmebryan9h ago

@shin
Well keep it simple Sony 's operating income is down 26% and Microsoft's is up 32%. No MS spin there, just facts. 😉
Cheers

S2Killinit2h ago

MS is after diminishing consoles as a medium. They want to destroy this market because they couldnt win. MS’s vision is to dissolve console gaming.

romulus238h ago

Odd that a company that touts you dont need the hardware to play is already touting another console in the works.

darthv728h ago

They are not reliant on the HW but still want to maintain a presence (no matter how small) is a good thing. It shows commitment to the craft. It reminds me of SNK and how they made games for their own hardware (Neo Geo) while also making them for others because they knew there was a market to do so. They knew they would sell more to others but also sell to their own niche fan base.

TheEroica2h ago(Edited 2h ago)

Perfectly reasonable post down voted by insecure corporation friendly folk.... But not gamers. Real gamer want accessibility and ease of acquisition for all.... Company shills are the only ones still telling us that hardware locking people from games is good for us.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 1h ago
purple10118h ago

Xbox hardware revenue tanks to lowest point of Xbox Series generation

Profchaos18h ago

I'm not surprised surface is struggling they aren't relevant anymore

DOMination-7h ago

In the last two years they've started exiting the consumer market altogether. All of the newest Surface products are business models only. They can't seem to work out what they want to do with it.

XBManiac17h ago

Too expensive hardware when others offer the same or more for less? Good work, Green Team.

SimpleDad17h ago(Edited 17h ago)

"Despite some early successes for Xbox games on rival platforms, Xbox hardware is down by a massive 31 percent this quarter."
"Without Activision Blizzard, Microsoft’s overall gaming revenue would have actually declined this quarter."
"Xbox content and services would have only been up a single percent without Activision Blizzard..."
"It looks like next quarter is going to be a similar story for gaming at Microsoft, too."

That is crazy... so A/B/K is carrying the whole Xbox gaming.
Oh and Microsoft will be fine. Windows, Office and Cloud are growing with each pc purchase.

purple10116h ago

Activision: "we gonna need a bigger rucksack/backpack please"

Microsoft: "why's that"

Activision: "to carry yo' weak ass'

Profchaos16h ago(Edited 16h ago)

Top brass have also wanted to start seeing returns on the 100 billion they have put into various Xbox related moves so seeing more multiplatform games is highly likely especially from abk

It's basically saying that PlayStation is the reason Xbox is afloat right now thinks to Ps5 versions of COD

Kornholic14h ago

So basically PS and PC gamers' money is keeping Xbox on life support.

MrDead8h ago

The only growth MS will get out of the console industry is if it supports it's rivals platforms. Xbox is a pointless machine now. I can see them on a big push for live next, and they won't give up on trying to buy Steam.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 8h ago
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90°

An Update on This Year’s BlizzCon and Blizzard’s 2024 Live Events

Blizzard writes: "After careful consideration over the last year, we at Blizzard have made the decision not to hold BlizzCon in 2024. This decision was not made lightly as BlizzCon remains a very special event for all of us, and we know many of you look forward to it. While we’re approaching this year differently and as we have explored different event formats in the past, rest assured that we are just as excited as ever to bring BlizzCon back in future years."

Read Full Story >>
blizzcon.com
PRIMORDUS1d 2h ago

How about you not hold Blizzcon anymore period. You fucking POS company. I really hope Blizzard would just die.