BRUSSELS: Publisher these days that isn’t pushing their video games as a service, offering lower / zero entry fees and are, instead, trying to needle more money from customers over time via microtransactions. One of the biggest franchises in video games, Grand Theft Auto, has completely gone away from story-based DLC and has focused primarily on GTA Online, with more companies focusing on creating loot boxes as part of their economy.
Depending on the level of gambling severity those boxes contain, they may now be considered illegal in Belgium.Publishers apparently “risk a prison sentence of up to five years and a fine of up to 800,000 euros,” with an emphasis on protecting children and their spending habits. As of this time, there isn’t a deadline put forth by Belgium for publishers to respond, and I severely doubt that prison sentences would be handed down from the onset.
