It seems EA is once again facing legal trouble for its use of loot boxes, as the company is now facing a class action lawsuit in Canada.
As spotted by esports and gaming law blog The Patch Notes, the lawsuit was filed on 30th September by two individuals based in British Columbia and Ontario, Mark Sutherland and Shawn Moore. The suit argues that loot boxes constitute gambling, and that EA is operating an unlicensed gambling business in breach of the Canadian Criminal Code. It also argues EA is liable to the plaintiffs under common law (including unjust enrichment) and has breached consumer protection statutes such as the BC Consumer Protection Act by failing to publish the odds of winning prizes and tying loot boxes to gameplay progression.
The Patch Notes explains that because this is a class action, everyone in Canada who has bought loot boxes from EA since 2008 is covered by the suit, and the filing comes with a list of over 60 titles including EA’s sports franchises, Mass Effect, Need for Speed, Battlefield, Apex Legends and more. The plaintiffs are seeking everything EA made through loot boxes since 2008 in damages, so if the suit was to be successful, it’s safe to say EA would have to pay a whole lot of money.
