US Senator Josh Hawley has proposed legislation that would prohibit pay-to-win mechanics, loot boxes, and other “manipulative design” in games targeted toward children.
“In recent years, the video game industry has become increasingly reliant on monetization models that promote compulsive ‘microtransaction’ purchases by consumers,” reads a statement announcing the legislation on Hawley’s website.
“When a game is designed for kids, game developers shouldn’t be allowed to monetize addiction,” Hawley writes, “And when kids play games designed for adults, they should be walled off from compulsive microtransactions.”
