Official statement from Valve.

We shared with the NYAG that these types of boxes in our games are widely used, not just in video games but in the tangible world as well, where generations have grown up opening baseball card packs and blind boxes and bags, and then trading and selling the items they receive.

You’re right! We should stop that too!

PlzGivHugs
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Secondary argument: if you buy a game, you shouldn’t have to gamble to get the game’s content.

This one doesn’t apply to Valve’s games, both because the base games are free and because the items can be bought directly. The rest of the gaming industry on the other hand…

Assassassin
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Yeah, true. Both of those were arguments more against lootboxes in general than specifically how valve has done it, I suppose. Valve’s implementation is certainly a lot less predatory than EA or any mobile game lol

@[email protected]
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Bought from valve directly? Because I don’t think saying you can buy the skin from the Steam marketplace for $1,000 is the slam dunk argument you think it is.

PlzGivHugs
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Bought from valve directly? Because I don’t think saying you can buy the skin from the Steam marketplace for $1,000 is the slam dunk argument you think it is.

Technically, yes, bought from them directly, but I’m not sure how that distinction matters one way or another.

Either way, you either spend about $1000 on lootboxes, gambling to get it, or you buy it from another player for about that much. Given that the value is player set based on supply and demand, the price will be in the same ballpark either way. You can argue that the price is absurd and abusive, but thats an argument against high prices on worthless digital items, not one against lootboxes.

@[email protected]
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Yes, there’s a huge difference between selling something with transparent pricing versus offering it as a gambling prize.

The issue is not the price, it’s the addictive gambling mechanic. It’s not about making sure steam doesn’t rip people off, it’s about making sure steam doesn’t get kids addicted to gambling.

PlzGivHugs
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Yes, there’s a huge difference between selling something with transparent pricing versus offering it as a gambling prize.

The issue is not the price, it’s the addictive gambling mechanic. It’s not about making sure steam doesn’t rip people off, it’s about making sure steam doesn’t get kids addicted to gambling.

Yes, exactly my point. Whether you paid previously, and whether its available without gambling has no impact on the definition of gambling or if it is bad.

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