US video games publishing giant Electronic Arts is being sued in Canada.
That's according to Business in Vancouver's Who's Getting Sued section – as spotted by ThePatchNotes.com – which says that a class action lawsuit has been filed against EA in the country over its implementation of loot boxes in its popular FIFA football series, as well as its Madden NFL, NHL, NBA Live, UFC, Plants vs Zombies, Mass Effect, Need for Speed series and Apex Legends. The suit was filed with the court on September 30th.
The class – represented by lawyers Mark Sutherland and Shawn Moore – is claiming that EA is operating an unlicensed gambling business by offering loot boxes in its games. The suit also takes issue with the fact that the publisher doesn't release the odds of winning prizes in titles like FIFA.
This isn't the only class action that EA is facing. In August, a suit was filed in California over the loot boxes in FIFA Ultimate team.
This is just the latest bit of loot box drama. This all started with EA's Star Wars Battlefront II, which gained a lot of attention for its aggressive implementation of the business model.
Since then, countries around the world have been figuring out how to legislate and regulate loot boxes. Belgium has flat out banned the business model in its games, leading EA to pull the mechanic from FIFA.
In the UK, the government is building up to an enquiry into loot boxes in video games following recommendations that they are regulated under gambling laws.
