EA has discontinued loot box sales for its existing and upcoming football sim games, FC 25 and FC 26, in South Korea.
The South Korean law (via the Reset Era forums) mandates the disclosure of probabilities for loot box items, due to which EA has restricted the purchase of probability-based in-game items in both FC 25 and FC 26. As such, FC Points can no longer be acquired in the country for both titles.
Details On South Korean Law Regarding Loot Boxes
As per South Korean law, “Loot box” refers to a game item purchased directly or indirectly with monetary payment by the user [including game items obtained by combining purchased and free items] whose specific type, effect, or performance is determined by random factors. Depending on the nature and method of the loot box, the following information must be disclosed.
- Loot boxes that provide other items upon purchase or use, where the type, grade, or performance of the items is determined by chance: The drop rates of all possible items by type, grade, and performance must be disclosed.
- Loot boxes that change the type, grade, or performance of an existing item based on random results: All probability information for possible changes must be disclosed.
- Loot boxes that synthesize multiple items to yield a new item with different type, grade, or performance based on random outcomes: All probability information for every possible synthesis result must be disclosed.
If a single loot box falls under multiple categories, all applicable items (including those designated by the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism pursuant to Article 19-2(1)2 of the Act) must be disclosed.
In simple terms, the South Korean law requires that rather than mentioning general probabilities, such a specific percentage chance of receiving a specific in-game item via a loot box, game companies must disclose the individual drop rates for every single item that can be received in the loot box. As such, EA is required to disclose all loot box probabilities in South Korea. However, the company seems to have opted out of this regulation, completely blocking the purchase of FC Points in its football sim games.
