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Belgian players can no longer purchase loot boxes in Blizzard games like Overwatch

Belgian players can no longer purchase loot boxes in Blizzard games like Overwatch

Blizzard has removed paid loot boxes from Overwatch and Heroes of the Storm in Belgium.

After the Belgian Gaming Commission declared loot boxes a form of illegal gambling, publishers have been moving to fit their models around the new law.

Now, Blizzard has taken action by removing paid loot boxes from two of its games. Overwatch in particular named by the commission as one of the offending titles that influenced the new ruling.

"While we at Blizzard were surprised by this conclusion and do not share the same opinion, we have decided to comply with their interpretation of Belgian law," said Blizzard, in a statement.

"As a result, we have no choice but to implement measures that will prevent Overwatch and Heroes of the Storm players located in Belgium from purchasing in-game loot boxes and loot chests with real money and gems."

Blizzard is only the latest publisher to take steps to rein in loot boxes in the region. Valve has taken major steps to alter its own loot boxes - Counter-Strike: Global Offensive crates are off-limits to Dutch and Belgian players, while Dutch players can now straight-up just see what a Dota 2 crate will drop before purchase.


Staff Writer

Natalie Clayton is an Edinburgh-based freelance writer and game developer. Besides PCGamesInsider and Pocketgamer.biz, she's written across the games media landscape and was named in the 2018 GamesIndustry.biz 100 Rising Star list.