Star Wars Battlefront II’s lootbox controversy produced Reddit’s most-downvoted comment ever and sparked global regulation of gambling mechanics in games.
Pay-to-Win Backlash
EA locked iconic heroes like Darth Vader behind 40+ hours of grinding or lootbox purchases. Players revolted. EA’s November 12, 2017 Reddit response defending it created “a sense of pride and accomplishment” became gaming’s most hated phrase.
-668,000 Downvotes
EA’s comment received 668,000 downvotes - Reddit’s most-downvoted ever. The backlash was so severe that EA temporarily removed microtransactions before launch, then redesigned the entire system.
Regulatory Response
Belgium and Netherlands banned lootboxes as gambling. The controversy sparked global conversations about predatory monetization, especially in games marketed to children. It changed how companies approach in-game purchases.
Related: #EA #StarWars #Lootboxes #GamingRegulation #PayToWin
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