Media Features: Highlights

Total media features: 630+ (2024: 255; 2023: 262; 2022: 126)

1. Roberts, S. (2025, April 23). Dutch advertising self-regulator partially upholds loot box complaint against My.Games. GamesIndustry.biz. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/dutch-advertising-self-regulator-partially-upholds-loot-box-complaint-against-mygames

2. Hasan, Z., & York, A. (2025, April 4). Under 30 Alums From Zuckerberg To Rihanna Made This Year’s Billionaires List. You Won’t Believe Who Else Made It. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/zoyahasan/2025/04/04/under-30-alums-from-zuckerberg-to-rihanna-made-this-years-billionaires-list-you-wont-believe-who-else-made-it/

3. RNZ. (2025, March 31). Media Council upholds complaint about in-game loot box ban article. RNZ. https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/corrections/556663/media-council-upholds-complaint-about-in-game-loot-box-ban-article / https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/556663/media-council-upholds-complaint-about-in-game-loot-box-ban-article

4. Belga. (2025, March 3). 172 gamingbedrijven met illegale 'lootboxes' betalen Meta voor advertenties aan Belgen [172 gaming companies with illegal 'loot boxes' pay Meta for advertisements to Belgians]. Belga. https://www.msn.com/nl-be/nieuws/nationaal/172-gamingbedrijven-met-illegale-lootboxes-betalen-meta-voor-advertenties-aan-belgen/ar-AA1A9fYN.

5. Long, N. (2025, February 25). Accusations fly as researcher claims UK loot box regulations are failing. Mobilegamer.biz. https://mobilegamer.biz/accusations-fly-as-researcher-claims-uk-loot-box-regulations-are-failing/.

6. Lauwers, M. (2025, February 3). En hébergeant des jeux d'argent, Apple enfreint-il la loi belge? [By hosting gambling games, is Apple breaking Belgian law?]. L'Echo. https://www.lecho.be/entreprises/medias-divertissement/en-hebergeant-des-jeux-d-argent-apple-enfreint-il-la-loi-belge/10585749.html

7. Hecht, F. (2024, December 10). Loot boxes dans les jeux vidéo : l’Europe devrait-elle suivre l’exemple de la Belgique et des Pays-Bas ? [Loot boxes in video games: should Europe follow the example of Belgium and the Netherlands?]. RTBF. https://www.rtbf.be/article/loot-boxes-dans-les-jeux-video-l-europe-devrait-elle-suivre-l-exemple-de-la-belgique-et-des-pays-bas-11471671.

8. Keza, MacDonald. (2024, December 4). How do you save a dying mobile game? Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp has the answer. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/games/2024/dec/04/pushing-buttons-nintendo-animal-crossing-pocket-camp-mobile-games.

9. Gerken, T. (2024, November 29). Top-selling mobile games break rules on loot boxes. BBC. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c748ww9y9nno.

10. Valentine, R. (2024, October 8). Respawn Is Disclosing Apex Legends Loot Box Odds in Even Greater Detail Now. IGN. https://www.ign.com/articles/respawn-is-disclosing-apex-legends-loot-box-odds-in-even-greater-detail-now

11. Minassian, N. (2024, July 25). Money blog: Mobile game ads 'breaking advertising rules' on social media - as Beckham clip slammed. Sky News. https://news.sky.com/story/money-blog-consumer-mortgage-interest-rates-inflation-finance-skynews-latest-13040934?postid=8018293#liveblog-body

12. Sephton, C. (2024, July 12). Why is Hamster Kombat So Popular, and Will It Last?. Crypto News. https://cryptonews.com/exclusives/why-is-hamster-kombat-so-popular-and-will-it-last.htm

13. Dealessandri, M. (2024, July 10). ASA rules Golf Clash ad misled around loot boxes disclosure. GamesIndustry.biz. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/asa-rules-golf-clash-ad-misled-around-loot-boxes-disclosure

14. Domínguez, M. (2024, June 30). Leon Xiao, el sabio que desmonta la nueva ley sobre videojuegos: "Los niños no están protegidos" [Leon Xiao, the wise man who dismantles the new law on video games: "Children are not protected"]. El Español. https://www.elespanol.com/ciencia/salud/20240630/leon-xiao-sabio-desmonta-nueva-ley-videojuegos-ninos-no-protegidos/866413545_0.html

15. Dealessandri, M. (2024, June 25). Northern Ireland APG calls for gambling in games to be "severely limited," including loot boxes. GamesIndustry.biz. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/northern-ireland-apg-calls-for-gambling-in-games-to-be-severely-limited-including-loot-boxes

16. Tøfting, S. (2024, June). Computerspil indeholder særlige kneb, der får dig til at bruge penge [Computer games contain special tricks that make you spend money]. Forskerforum, 2024(3), 12–13. https://dm.dk/media/znai33bd/forskerforum-nr-3-2024.pdf

17. Vester, T. (2024, May 22). Han er allerede »verdens nok førende ekspert« på sit område [He is already "probably the world's leading expert" in his field]. Berlingske, 15.

18. Davies, R. (2024, March 30). Video game firms ‘broke own rules’ on loot boxes. The Guardian, 37.

19. Davies, R. (2024, March 29). Video game firms found to have broken own UK industry rules on loot boxes. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2024/mar/29/video-game-companies-developers-loot-boxes-regulator-complaints-rules.

20. Nunley, C. (2024, March 24). Why the $183 billion video game industry can’t quit microtransactions. CNBC / CNBC Africa, video timestamps: 07:01–07:12. https://www.cnbc.com/2024/03/24/why-the-183-billion-video-game-industry-cant-quit-microtransactions.html / https://www.cnbcafrica.com/2024/why-the-183-billion-video-game-industry-cant-quit-microtransactions/.

21. Batchelor, J. (2024, March 20). EA, Miniclip, Jagex loot box ads broke UK advertising rules. GamesIndustry.biz. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/ea-miniclip-jagex-loot-box-ads-broke-uk-advertising-rules.

22. Ngan, L. (2024, March 20). EA, Jagex, and Miniclip broke loot box advertising rules. Eurogamer. https://www.eurogamer.net/ea-jagex-and-miniclip-broke-loot-box-advertising-rules.

23. Shelley, L. (2024, March 20). Electronic Arts admits ads ‘mistakenly published’ as ASA ruling upheld. Campaign UK. https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/electronic-arts-admits-ads-mistakenly-published-asa-ruling-upheld/1865747.

24. Espersen, O.E. (2024, March 16). Han er 26 år og allerede »verdens nok førende ekspert« på sit område [He is 26 years old and already "probably the world's leading expert" in his field]. Berlingske. https://www.berlingske.dk/talent-100/han-er-26-aar-og-allerede-verdens-nok-foerende-ekspert-paa-sit-omraade.

25. Uddannelses- og Forskningsministeriet [Ministry of Higher Education and Science]. (2024, February 26). Fem forrygende forskere vinder EliteForsk-priser i dag. Uddannelses- og Forskningsministeriet [Ministry of Higher Education and Science]. https://ufm.dk/aktuelt/pressemeddelelser/2024/fem-forrygende-forskere-vinder-eliteforsk-priser-i-dag.

26. Batchelor, J. (2024, January 29). German state proposes ban on loot boxes. GamesIndustry.biz. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/german-state-proposes-ban-on-loot-boxes

27. Kuhlman, V. (2024, January 27). Scorer kassen på forhadt fænomen [Scoring the box on hated phenomenon]. Ekstra Bladet Go Lørdag, 7.

28. Kuhlman, V. (2024, January 23). Gem artikel Forhadt fænomen: Så meget tjente de [Hated phenomenon: That's how much they earned]. Ekstra Bladet. https://ekstrabladet.dk/forbrug/Teknologi/forhadt-faenomen-saa-meget-tjente-de/10103304

29. Long, N. (2024, January 16). Don’t panic: China’s free to play gaming clampdown has a long way to go. Mobilegamer.biz. https://mobilegamer.biz/dont-panic-chinas-proposed-loot-box-clampdown-has-a-long-way-to-go/

30. Chen, E. (2024, January 14). Beijing Plays A Dangerous Game With the Markets. The Wire China. https://www.thewirechina.com/2024/01/14/beijing-plays-a-dangerous-game-with-the-markets-video-gaming-regulations/ [$]

31. Sinclair, B. (2024, January 5). TinyBuild shut down Versus Evil on the last day before Christmas | This Week in Business. GamesIndustry.biz. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/tinybuild-shut-down-versus-evil-on-the-last-day-before-christmas-this-week-in-business.

32. Shutler, A. (2024, January 5). Publisher fined £7million for secretly changing loot box drop rates. NME (New Musical Express). https://www.nme.com/news/gaming-news/publisher-fined-7million-for-secretly-changing-loot-box-drop-rates-3566022.

33. Sinclair, B. (2024, January 4). Study finds most social media ads ignore loot box label requirements. GamesIndustry.biz. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/study-finds-most-social-media-ads-ignore-loot-box-label-requirements

34. Sinclair, B. (2023, December 22). China to ban some monetization and engagement tactics in games. GamesIndustry.biz. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/china-to-ban-some-monetization-and-engagement-tactics-in-games

35. Domínguez, M. (2023, November 10). El lado oscuro de los videojuegos no tiene nada que ver con la violencia: el peligro de las 'cajas botín' [The dark side of video games has nothing to do with violence: the danger of 'loot boxes']. El Español. https://www.elespanol.com/ciencia/salud/20231110/lado-oscuro-videojuegos-no-ver-violencia-peligro-cajas-botin/808169575_0.html

36. Sinclair, B. (2023, October 4). Hutch Games slapped for loot box disclosure violations. GamesIndustry.biz. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/hutch-games-slapped-for-loot-box-disclosure-violations.

37. Brunning, J., Cropper, L., & Lanois, P. (2023, August 14). New Loot Box Transparency Guidance in the UK – is it game-changing?. GamesIndustry.biz / Fieldfisher. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/new-loot-box-transparency-guidance-in-the-uk-is-it-game-changing / https://www.fieldfisher.com/en/insights/new-loot-box-transparency-guidance-in-the-uk-is-it-game-changing.

38. Shen, X. (2023, August 14). Researchers question the effectiveness of China’s game time restrictions for minors in reducing heavy play. South China Morning Post (SCMP) / Bangkok Post / The Star. https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3230938/researchers-question-effectiveness-chinas-game-time-restrictions-minors-reducing-heavy-play / https://www.bangkokpost.com/world/2629295/researchers-question-the-effectiveness-of-chinas-game-time-restrictions-for-minors-in-reducing-heavy-play / https://www.thestar.com.my/aseanplus/aseanplus-news/2023/08/14/researchers-question-the-effectiveness-of-chinas-game-time-restrictions-for-minors-in-reducing-heavy-play.

39. Sinclair, B. (2023, August 10). Researchers find China's game time limits ineffective in reducing excessive play. GamesIndustry.biz. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/researchers-find-chinas-game-time-limits-ineffective-in-reducing-excessive-play

40. Stokel-Walker, C. (2023, August 10). China’s video-game limits for children haven’t cut heavy gaming. New Scientist. https://www.newscientist.com/article/2387005-chinas-video-game-limits-for-children-havent-cut-heavy-gaming/

41. BBC Newsround. (2023, July 21). Loot boxes: Gaming companies plan to reduce 'problem gambling' for kids. BBC Newsround. https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/66261092 [after corrections that I instigated]

42. Wagner, P. (2023, July 18). UKIE veröffentlicht Leitprinzipien zu Lootboxen [UKIE publishes guiding principles on loot boxes]. GamesMarkt. https://www.gamesmarkt.de/business/uk-gamesindustrie-ukie-veroeffentlicht-leitprinzipien-zu-lootboxen-6b0d015a1d94d8348c0a510a8f52be0b

43. Davies, R. (2023, July 14). More than 850 people referred to clinic for video game addicts. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/jul/14/more-than-850-people-referred-to-london-clinic-for-video-game-addicts-gambling-style-features-loot-boxes

44. Rousseau, J. (2023, July 3). Dutch government seeks to ban loot boxes. GamesIndustry.biz. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/dutch-government-seeks-to-ban-loot-boxes.

45. Dirección General de Ordenación del Juego (DGOJ) [Directorate General for the Regulation of Gambling]. (2023, June 22). Sesión plenaria del Consejo Asesor de juego responsable [Plenary session of the Responsible Gaming Advisory Council]. DGOJ. https://www.ordenacionjuego.es/en/noticia-CAJR_20230620.

46. Tech Xplore. (2023, June 15). Study reveals concerns over loot box probability disclosure transparency in video games. Tech Xplore. https://techxplore.com/news/2023-06-reveals-loot-probability-disclosure-transparency.html.

47. Klosiński, D. (2023, May 24). Activision Blizzard musi zapłacić karę za lootboxy, ale to „grosze” [Activision Blizzard has to pay a penalty for lootboxes, but it's "pennies"]. Eurogamer.pl. https://www.eurogamer.pl/activision-blizzard-musi-zaplacic-kare-za-lootboxy-ale-to-grosze.

48. Attila, B. (2023, May 23). Diablo Immortal: Több ezer euróra büntették a játék kiadóját a fizetős tartalmak miatt [Diablo Immortal: The publisher of the game was fined several thousand euros for paid content]. IGN Hungary. https://hu.ign.com/diablo-immortal/86637/news/diablo-immortal-tobb-ezer-eurora-buntettek-a-jatek-kiadojat-a-fizetos-tartalmak-miatt.

49. Kennedy, V. (2023, May 23). Activision Blizzard fined just €5k over Diablo Immortal loot boxes. Eurogamer. https://www.eurogamer.net/activision-blizzard-fined-just-5k-over-diablo-immortal-loot-boxes.

50. Sinclair, B. (2023, May 23). Activision Blizzard, Plaion fined for not disclosing loot boxes. GamesIndustry.biz. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/activision-blizzard-plaion-fined-for-not-disclosing-loot-boxes.

51. Bender, M. (2023, April 1). How a Popular Video Game Trait Can Trigger Gambling Problems. The Daily Beast. https://www.thedailybeast.com/how-loot-boxes-in-video-games-can-trigger-gambling-problems-in-children.

52. Kuhlman, V. (2022, March 13). Ulovligt i Østrig: - Det kan sprede sig til andre lande [Illegal in Austria: - It can spread to other countries]. Ekstra Bladet. https://ekstrabladet.dk/forbrug/Teknologi/ulovligt-i-oestrig-det-kan-sprede-sig-til-andre-lande/9664279.

53. Acovino, V. (2023, February 15). The FTC went after Fortnite. Now, the video game industry is on watch. NPR (National Public Radio). https://www.npr.org/2023/02/15/1157279984/the-ftc-went-after-fortnite-now-the-video-game-industry-is-on-watch.

54. Ngan, L. (2023, January 19). Study finds rating board loot box warnings inconsistently applied. Eurogamer. https://www.eurogamer.net/study-finds-rating-board-loot-box-warnings-inconsistently-applied

55. Sinclair, B. (2023, January 18). Study: Loot box labels inconsistently applied. GamesIndustry.biz. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/study-loot-box-labels-inconsistently-applied

56. Xiao, L.Y. (2022, December 15). Loot Boxの現状2022：規制と政策研究の進展状況 [The State of Loot Boxes 2022: Progress in Regulatory and Policy Research] (aueki, Trans.). GamesIndustry.biz Japan Edition, 4Gamer.net. https://jp.gamesindustry.biz/article/2212/22121401/

57. Baker, J., & Lemon, J. (2022, December 12). From loot boxes to gambling addiction: experts warn video games open door to betting. The Sydney Morning Herald. https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/from-loot-boxes-to-gambling-addiction-experts-warn-video-games-open-door-to-betting-20221209-p5c579.html

58. Whitmer, A. (2022, December 7). Are in-game ‘loot boxes’ a gambling gateway for children?. Deseret News. https://www.deseret.com/entertainment/2022/12/6/23467178/are-in-game-loot-boxes-a-gambling-gateway-for-children

59. Rousseau, J. (2022, December 6). The Game Awards announces 2022 Future Class: This year's cohort includes Treyarch's Camille Ramseur, researcher Leon Y. Xiao, and esports commentator Maah Lopez. GamesIndustry.biz. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/the-game-awards-announces-2022-future-class

60. Leahy, D. (2022, November 24). What are 'loot boxes' and why are they so difficult to regulate?. RTÉ (Raidió Teilifís Éireann). https://www.rte.ie/brainstorm/2022/1124/1338027-loot-boxes-video-games-gambling-regulation/

61. Jiang, S. (2022, November 2). These Genshin Impact Fans Spent $1,000 to $90,000 On Its Characters. Kotaku & Yahoo Finance. https://kotaku.com/genshin-impact-whales-hoyoverse-gacha-gambling-spending-1849734889 & https://finance.yahoo.com/news/genshin-impact-fans-spent-1-213000013.html

62. Pröschold, J. & Mohamed, I.A. (2022, October 13). Det minder om et skrabelod, og det kan blive en dyr oplevelse for børn og unge [It resembles a scratch card, and it can be an expensive experience for children and young people]. Politiken. https://politiken.dk/forbrugogliv/digitalt/art9015796/Det-minder-om-et-skrabelod-og-det-kan-blive-en-dyr-oplevelse-for-b%C3%B8rn-og-unge

63. Goddard, J. (2022, October 6). Loot boxes in computer games: Are they a form of gambling?. House of Lords Library, UK Parliament. https://lordslibrary.parliament.uk/loot-boxes-in-computer-games-are-they-a-form-of-gambling/

64. Partis, D. (2022, September 15). Adopt Me shuts down in The Netherlands and Belgium over loot box woes. GamesIndustry.biz. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/adopt-me-shuts-down-in-the-netherlands-and-belgium-over-loot-box-woes

65. Carter, J. (2022, September 15). Roblox game Adopt Me ends Netherlands service due to loot boxes. Game Developer. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/pc/-i-roblox-i-game-i-adopt-me-i-ends-netherlands-service-due-to-loot-boxes

66. Nysten, S. (2022, September 4). Når loot boxen lokker [When the loot box beckons]. Prosabladet, 2022/9, 16–19. Magazine: https://www.prosa.dk/fileadmin/user_upload/Prosabladet_202209.pdf; Article: https://prosabladet.dk/nyheder/nyhed/naar-loot-boxen-lokker

67. Đỗ, P. (2022, August 13). Loot box sẽ xuất hiện trở lại trên FIFA 23 [Loot boxes will reappear on FIFA 23]. Thanh Niên. https://thanhnien.vn/loot-box-se-xuat-hien-tro-lai-tren-fifa-23-post1487565.html

68. Ramboer, T. (2022, August 13). Ze zetten kinderen aan tot gokken, maar worden zomaar verkocht: 8 op 10 games verkopen nog steeds ‘lootboxes’ [They encourage children to gamble, but are sold just like that: 8 out of 10 games still sell 'loot boxes']. Nieuwsblad.be/Gazet van Antwerpen (GVA). https://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/dmf20220812_97460883 & https://www.gva.be/cnt/dmf20220813_09388283

69. Amon, A. (2022, August 8). Der mobile Games-Markt schrumpft erstmals – möge er in der Hölle schmoren [The mobile games market is shrinking for the first time – may it rot in hell]. Der Standard. https://www.derstandard.de/story/2000138069422/der-mobile-games-markt-schrumpft-erstmals-moege-er-in-der

70. Bellens, E. (2022, August 8). Belgisch verbod op lootboxes amper gehandhaafd / L'interdiction belge des 'lootboxes' à peine appliquée [Belgian ban on loot boxes barely enforced]. DataNews, Knack. Flemish: https://datanews.knack.be/ict/nieuws/belgisch-verbod-op-lootboxes-amper-gehandhaafd/article-news-1889595.html & French: https://datanews.levif.be/ict/actualite/l-interdiction-belge-des-lootboxes-a-peine-appliquee/article-news-1581817.html

71. Benfell, G. (2022, August 5). New Study Finds Belgium's Loot Box Ban Is Barely Enforced. GameSpot. https://www.gamespot.com/articles/new-study-finds-belgiums-loot-box-ban-is-barely-enforced/1100-6506203/

72. Shutler, A. (2022, August 5). Study claims country-wide loot box ban isn’t “practically achievable”. NME (New Musical Express). https://www.nme.com/news/gaming-news/study-claims-country-wide-loot-box-ban-isnt-practically-achievable-3284417

73. Rousseau, J. (2022, August 4). Study finds that Belgium's loot box ban isn't being enforced. GamesIndustry.biz. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/study-finds-that-belgiums-loot-box-ban-isnt-being-enforced

74. Cano, F. (2022, April 15). Las criptomonedas sustituyen la publicidad de las apuestas aprovechando la ley Garzón [Cryptocurrencies replace gambling advertising by taking advantage of the Garzón law]. THE OBJECTIVE. https://theobjective.com/economia/2022-04-15/criptomonedas-publicidad-casas-apuestas/

75. Ziegler, M., &  Knowles, T. (2022, January 22). Football has card marked over rise of crypto deals. The Times. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/football-has-card-marked-over-rise-of-crypto-deals-xl3nqvtqm ($)

76. Davies, R. (2022, January 22). Dangerous game? Football clubs look to mine fans’ cash with crypto offerings. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/jan/22/dangerous-game-football-clubs-look-to-mine-fans-cash-with-crypto-offerings

77. Мазин, Е. [Mazin, E.]. (2021, December 15). Игры по-крупному: как геймеры тратят миллиарды на виртуальные покупки [Big Games: How Gamers Spend Billions on Virtual Shopping]. Информацио́нное аге́нтство Росси́и ТАСС [The Russian News Agency TASS]. https://tass.ru/obschestvo/13207929

78. Sinclair, B. (2021, July 23). Research finds popular games skirt Chinese loot box disclosure laws. GamesIndustry.biz. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-07-23-research-finds-popular-games-skirt-chinese-loot-box-disclosure-laws