Activision Blizzard and Plaion Face Fines for Failing to Disclose Loot Boxes

The PEGI ratings board has imposed fines on Activision Blizzard and Plaion for failing to disclose the presence of loot boxes in their games during the rating submission process. Specifically, Activision Blizzard did not mention loot boxes in Diablo Immortal, while Plaion omitted this information for the Limited Bounty Hunter Edition of Hunt: Showdown. As a result, the PEGI Enforcement Committee has sanctioned both companies with a €5,000 fine, citing a breach of the PEGI Code of Conduct. Following the fines, both companies have updated their store listings and marketing materials to reflect the presence of loot boxes. The PEGI warning label for randomized in-game purchases was introduced in April 2020, but researcher Leon Xiao has highlighted inconsistencies in its application between PEGI and the ESRB in North America.