Nintendo to Discontinue Loot Boxes in Mario Kart Tour by October

Nintendo has confirmed that it will be removing the loot box feature from Mario Kart Tour in an upcoming update. Currently, players can spend in-game currency on pipes that yield randomized rewards, including characters and karts. However, the odds of winning certain items are as low as 0.04%, and some items are only available for a limited time. In its place, Nintendo will introduce a Spotlight Shop, where players can purchase specific items directly. The shop will feature new and previously released drivers, karts, and gliders. This change is scheduled to take place in late September, alongside the introduction of a new Battle Mode. Since its launch in 2019, Mario Kart Tour has generated an estimated $293 million, although not all of this revenue comes from loot box purchases. The removal of loot boxes follows similar moves by other game developers, and comes amid ongoing debates about the regulation of loot boxes as a form of gambling. The UK government has recently called on the games industry to do more to protect children from the potential harms of loot boxes.