EA Faces Setback in Austrian Court Over FIFA Loot Boxes

A Vienna court has ordered Electronic Arts and Sony to compensate Austrian gamers with €10,800 ($11,800) for purchasing FIFA Ultimate Team packs. The Landesgericht für Zivilrechtssachen Wien court determined that these loot boxes infringe upon gambling laws, although this decision does not have broader implications for Austria's stance on loot boxes due to the case-by-case nature of civil cases in the country. Electronic Arts has experienced varied outcomes in Austrian lower courts, having won two previous cases while losing this one upon appeal. Despite disagreeing with the latest ruling, EA has opted not to pursue an appeal. In a statement, the company expressed confidence that their games, including FIFA, do not constitute gambling and are compliant with local laws, citing favorable rulings from regulators and courts worldwide. The dispute surrounding FIFA Ultimate Team packs has led to numerous legal challenges, with EA facing mixed results in lower and civil courts. Notably, the company was fined €10 million in the Netherlands but ultimately prevailed in the highest court, which ruled that FIFA Ultimate Team packs do not violate gambling laws.