Regulating In-Game Monetization : Implications of Regulation on Games Production

Abstract

A widening gap exists between the understanding of regulation ‘on the books’ and how regulation is exercised in practice. Utilizing the concept of regulatory space, I examine the on-going regulation of ‘loot box’ monetization within the video game industry. Over the period of 2014 to 2018, several legislative attempts to regulate loot boxes have occurred internationally. While each of these pieces of regulation, whether successful or not, is framed within specific nation-states, the shifting landscape of regulation surrounding monetization impacts production and consumption of games worldwide. I argue for a de-centred approach to examine regulation of loot boxes to incorporate the global interconnections of various actors, including corporations, nation state governments, consumers, and independent regulatory bodies.