Germany’s Minister for Social Affairs from the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Stefanie Drese, engaged with industry representatives at the Gamescom event in Cologne and subsequently announced a forthcoming initiative to be presented to the Federal Council (Bundesrat) aimed at bolstering youth protection within the video game sector.
According to a statement released by her ministry on Sunday, Drese intends to advocate for stricter regulation of loot boxes – in-game purchasable items containing randomized virtual rewards. The Minister highlighted that a significant majority – 72 percent – of individuals aged 12 to 19 years regularly participate in video gaming and are frequently exposed to these mechanisms.
Loot boxes, which can be acquired with real money without guaranteeing specific content, represent a substantial revenue stream for the gaming industry. However, Drese expressed concern regarding the potential for these systems to foster dependence and lead to financial hardship among young players.
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern is scheduled to formally submit its proposal to the Bundesrat at the end of September. The initiative will reportedly focus on measures promoting transparency, including clear disclosure of contents and associated probability rates, as well as the inclusion of warnings regarding potential gambling-related risks. Furthermore, the state intends to propose the integration of educational modules regarding loot boxes and “pay-to-win” mechanics into school curricula to raise awareness among students.