Leaked material reveals Electronic Arts will go to great lengths to get users to spend on loot boxes. Much has been discussed about loot boxes, one of the most controversial elements of recent introduction in video games. Among the companies that have taken most advantage of this resource is Electronic Arts and one of its best-performing franchises is FIFA and a newly leaked document indicates that it will do everything possible to make players gestate money in loot boxes.
One of the most popular features that FIFA installments of the last decade have received is FIFA Ultimate Team (FUT), an online multiplayer mode that allows users to purchase FUT Packs (loot boxes) that contain player cards that improve the performance of a virtual team and therefore provide more opportunities to achieve victory. These packs can be obtained without spending real money, but the necessary currency is obtained slowly in the game, which forces players to use real money.
Being a form of loot boxes, this game mode has caused some controversy and is no doubt generating a bit more after a leaked document was released revealing the emphasis Electronic Arts is placing on this game mode.
Electronic Arts will do everything in its power to bring players to FUT
The document consists of a FIFA 21 presentation for internal use at Electronic Arts that came into the hands of the CBC news network thanks to a whistleblower who had access to it.
The 54-page material outlines the company’s plans for FIFA 21 and hints that it has a strong strategy that it hopes will get more players to join FIFA Ultimate Team and that it plans to encourage users to play FIFA Ultimate Team over the summer.
“FUT is the cornerstone and we are doing everything we can to drive players to it,” reads one page of the document and another mentions that “all roads lead to FUT,” aside from detailing a strategy to “drive excitement and funnel players to FUT from other modes.”
What do Electronic Arts have to say about it?
After the document was made public, a spokesperson for Electronic Arts contacted the CBC and mentioned that it is indeed privileged and confidential material”, which is being misinterpreted because it is being taken “out of context”, although when asked for clarification he did not respond.
However, spokesman Charlie Fortescue did offer information about loot boxes and how popular they are, apart from emphasizing that it is not necessary to spend real money to get them and that most users do not spend.
“We take great care and responsibility to ensure that our games and experiences are appropriate for their audience and that any in-game purchases are completely optional,” commented Fortescue, who reiterated that Electronic Arts does not incentivize young players to spend in its games.
