Apple Now Requires iOS Games to Disclose Loot Box Odds

Apple has updated its “App Store Review Guidelines” to include loot boxes. iOS games that use loot boxes are now required to disclose the odds of receiving each type of item. For example, the rarity of Legendary cards in Hearthstone.

Here’s the relevant part of the newly-updated guidelines (in bold):

3.1.1 In-App Purchase:

If you want to unlock features or functionality within your app, (by way of example: subscriptions, in-game currencies, game levels, access to premium content, or unlocking a full version), you must use in-app purchase. Apps may use in-app purchase currencies to enable customers to “tip” digital content providers in the app. Apps and their metadata may not include buttons, external links, or other calls to action that direct customers to purchasing mechanisms other than in-app purchase.

Any credits or in-game currencies purchased via in-app purchase may not expire, and you should make sure you have a restore mechanism for any restorable in-app purchases.

Remember to assign the correct purchasability type or your app will be rejected.

Apps should not directly or indirectly enable gifting of in-app purchase content, features, or consumable items to others.

Apps distributed via the Mac App Store may host plug-ins or extensions that are enabled with mechanisms other than the App Store.

Apps offering “loot boxes” or other mechanisms that provide randomized virtual items for purchase must disclose the odds of receiving each type of item to customers prior to purchase.

That’s a big move for Apple to make, and it’ll be interesting to see if Google requires similar disclosure on its Play Store.

What do you think of this change? Happy to finally see the odds behind the loot boxes? Let us know.

Essential Reading

– PUBG Update 1.0 Hits Live Servers, Check out the Patch Notes & Get a Free In-Game T-Shirt

FPS Freek Call of Duty: WWII Edition & KontrolFreek Performance Grips Review (PS4)

– Here’s All of The Game Awards 2017 Winners, Including Game of the Year

Top Games and Upcoming Releases