author: Bart Swiatek
Former President of EA Sports: „Lootboxes Aren't Gambling”
Peter Moore - former president of EA Sports - recently gave an interview in which he referred to the issue of lootboxes, among other topics. In his opinion, those and similar mechanics are very far from gambling.
IN A NUTSHELL:
- According to the former president of EA Sports, lootboxes are very different from gambling - primarily because the player always gets something for their money;
- Peter Moore also pointed out that EA has withdrawn from the problematic solutions in Battlefront 2.
Since the controversy that broke out around the progression system used in Star Wars: Battlefront 2, so-called lootboxes have been one of the topics that regularly return and stir unrest in the industry. Experts, commentators and even politicians have been wondering whether similar solutions can be compared to gambling and whether they should be regulated in some way. Recently Peter Moore, the former head of EA Sports, added his two cents on the issue, referring to the FIFA Ultimate Team mode, known from the football games created by the aforementioned studio.
"You're always getting something. It's not like you opened it and there's no players in there. This is a personal view, but the concept of surprise and delight vs gambling... on a continuum, they're a long way from each other. You buy or grind your way up to getting a gold pack, you open it up, and you're either happy or you think it's a crappy pack. I don't see that as gambling, per se -- but again, this is my personal view as an outsider right now," said the developer.
Who is Peter Moore?
Peter Moore is an experienced developer who has worked for Sega, Microsoft and Electronic Arts (in the latter he held various positions, including that of president of EA Sports). In 2017, he left the industry to become the CEO of Liverpool FC football club - he held the position until July last year.
Peter Moore also referred to the memorable controversy surrounding Battlefront 2, pointing to the fact that EA withdrew harmful ideas.
"I get the scrutiny, I understand outside of sports that loot boxes -- again, another EA title in particular -- get a lot of scrutiny and criticism. EA pulled back on that. One thing they're always good at is getting feedback and realising 'You know what, probably shouldn't have done that' or 'That was the wrong decision, it wasn't gamer-first,' and then pulling back and making a different decision," said Moore.
One thing seems certain - the subject of lootboxes is one of the topics that have had major impact on the industry in the course of 8th-gen console era and the problem remains unresolved. To avoid criticism and controversy, developers and publishers will have to look for better solutions that will satisfy both shareholders and critics. However, in order for this to happen, it must first be acknowledged that the current mechanics are harmful. This can be extremely difficult, especially considering how much of the revenue of companies like EA comes from solutions and modes similar to FIFA Ultimate Team.
