It’s rare that we have something good to say about loot boxes.
Loot boxes are bad news. From hooking “whales” to introducing kids to gambling, there’s nothing good about the insidious, digital Gashapon mechanic.
But while there is nothing good to say about loot boxes themselves, there are occasionally good news stories in this area. And this is at definitely a good news story that pertains to them: developer Psyonix and new publisher Epic Games are removing loot boxes from Rocket League.
In a statement on the Rocket League website, Psyonix says that (in conjunction with Epic Games) it is “dedicated to creating the best possible experience for our players,” and “in pursuit of that goal, later this year we will remove all paid, randomized crates from Rocket League, replacing them with a system that shows the exact items you’re buying in advance.”
“This is similar to changes implemented earlier this year by the Fortnite Save the World team,” the statement continues, adding that “Rocket Pass Premium, DLC Cars, and Esports Shop items will continue to be offered for direct purchase alongside our new system.”
Psyonix promises that it will “share more information, including timelines and roll-out specifics” in the coming months, with the removal of paid loot boxes from Rocket League slated for “later this year.”
The sooner the better, really.
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