MADRID, June 1 (Reuters) - Spain is set to become the first European country to have a law regulating the use of so-called loot boxes in videogames, aiming to avoid "thoughtless, compulsive or even pathological" consumer behaviour, the government said on Wednesday.
The loot boxes – digital packages of virtual items that can be purchased using real money - are an important source of developers' revenue.
They give players the chance to win desirable or often randomised game-changing equipment, and allow gaming companies a stream of high-margin income.
Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register.
Loot boxes have introduced similar features to those of traditional gambling, including the randomness of prizes that have a quantifiable value, and a cost to activate the mechanism.
Younger boys tend to use these purchasing mechanisms the most, it showed.
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. »