History Main / LootBoxes

* ''Manga/Overlord2012'': The YGGDRASSIL MMO used gacha mechanics, with Ainz giving out some of the more VendorTrash ones to his allies. Unfortunately, what was a barely-useful item in the MMO becomes an ungodly GameBreaker in the new world.

The first clear examples of this mechanic are the Chinese ''ZT Online'' (2007) and Canadian ''FIFA 09'' (2008). In East Asia, it would soon come to dominate the [[MobilePhoneGame mobile]] and [[BrowserGame browser]] gaming markets, where it's known as "gacha" after [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gashapon the toy capsule machines]][[note]]incidentally, [[InMyLanguageThatSoundsLike "gacha" is also Mexican Spanish for "awful"]]; Mexican gamers often refer to abusive gacha games, or unfruitful gacha runs, as a "gacha muy gacha" (literally a "very bad gacha")[[/note]]. The term "lootboxes" [[TropeNamer was coined]] by ''VideoGame/{{Overwatch}}'' in 2016.

The paid version of these is a sub-trope to {{Microtransactions}} and is a [[GamblingTropes gambling trope]], though the tropes are not mutual as some instances of loot boxes are not paid for. A sub-trope of MysteryBox. Mutually related to RandomLoot. Compare GachaGames. Contrast BettingMinigame, which is exclusively done through in-game currency.

The paid version of these is a sub-trope to {{Microtransactions}} and is a [[GamblingTropes gambling trope]], though the tropes are not mutual as some instances of loot boxes are not paid for. A sub-trope of MysteryBox. Mutually related to RandomLoot. Contrast BettingMinigame, which is exclusively done through in-game currency.

* ''{{VideoGame/Overwatch}}'' has loot boxes that are obtained in 3 ways; Earning enough XP for a new player level, purchased in bulk via in-game {{Microtransactions}}, or by playing the Arcade, which lets you earn a lootbox after every third win, stacking 3 times per week. Each one contains four hero-based cosmetic rewards, or varying amounts of gold coins to purchase said rewards with. Any duplicates will be converted to coins, albeit at a lower rate at what they actually cost. All event-specific items are tied to Event-Specific lootboxes, which requires opening those specific LootBoxes to get at the stuff you want, or by obtaining enough coins to buy them outright for '''''three times their normal cost''''' [[note]]Voice Lines and Emotes are 750 (From 250), Victory Poses are 225 (from 75), Sprays are 75 (from 25) and Skin prices vary on the rarity, but Legendaries are the most egregious, requiring '''3000 coins''' to purchase[[/note]] Not surprisingly, many players have taken to not liking the event-specific skin costs being disproportionately high for what their normal cost is, and see it as way of Blizzard trying to make players buy the aforementioned bulk lootbox packs, in order to up the chance of getting something you want, despite lootboxes, by their very nature, being incredibly unreliable. Notably, [[TropeNamer It's also the first game to directly call this trope by the name of "loot boxes"]]. Like with Battlefront II above, It was investigated by Belgium for whether its lootboxes constitutes gambling or not: [[https://www.nu.nl/games/5238218/fifa-18-en-overwatch-overtreden-wet-volgens-belgische-kansspelcommissie-.html And their final word is that they do.]]

* ''Videogame/MiddleEarthShadowOfWar'' is one of the most infamous aside from ''Videogame/StarWarsBattlefrontII2017'', due to the fact the game is completely single-player other than a asychronous multiplayer ladder system that involves fortress invasion. Most of the game can be completed without them. Where it becomes a problem is in the Epilogue, Shadow Wars, where you need to complete a long series of fortress defense missions to get the true ending. Later phases of Shadow Wars becomes a grueling task of finding the most optimized orcs to successfully defend or retake fortresses, and loot boxes encouraged speeding up the process. A year after release, the game completely removed the ability to purchase loot boxes (certain daily missions hand them out as rewards) and made the Epilogue much shorter.

The first clear examples of this mechanic are the Chinese ''ZT Online'' (2007) and Canadian ''FIFA 09'' (2008). In East Asia, it would soon come to dominate the [[MobilePhoneGame mobile]] and [[BrowserGame browser]] gaming markets, where it's known as [[GachaGames "gacha"]] after [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gashapon the toy capsule machines]][[note]]incidentally, [[InMyLanguageThatSoundsLike "gacha" is also Mexican Spanish for "awful"]]; Mexican gamers often refer to abusive gacha games, or unfruitful gacha runs, as a "gacha muy gacha" (literally a "very bad gacha")[[/note]]. The term "lootboxes" [[TropeNamer was coined]] by ''VideoGame/{{Overwatch}}'' in 2016.

The first clear examples of this mechanic are the Chinese ''ZT Online'' (2007) and Canadian ''FIFA 09'' (2008). In East Asia, it would soon come to dominate the [[MobilePhoneGame mobile]] and [[BrowserGame browser]] gaming markets, where it's known as "gacha" after [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gashapon the toy capsule machines]][[note]]incidentally, [[InMyLanguageThatSoundsLike "gacha" is also Mexican Spanish for "awful"]]; Mexican gamers often refer to abusive gacha games, or unfruitful gacha runs, as a "gacha muy gacha" (literally a "very bad gacha")[[/note]]. The term "lootboxes" [[TropeNamer was coined]] by ''VideoGame/{{Overwatch}}'' in 2016.

* There are various Chests on rotation in ''VideoGame/{{Paladins}}'', some unlock one random skin per roll, and others grant you a cosmetic item such as an [=MVP Pose=] or emote, all of which are '''guaranteed''' to be something you don't already have, as unlike its contemporaries, the game does not give you duplicate items. This has the inevitable downside of leading to a minority of players unlocking everything in a specific chest, and then earning more from events, which they cannot open since there's nothing left for them to win (Battle Chests were notorious for this), Here are some of the categories:
** The Gold Chest contains most non-event skins, emotes, and [=MVP=] poses, and costs 75 Crystals. You can earn one for free by completing your Ranked placement matches, and in Level 49 of Battle Pass 9 and 10, and in the Paid tier in Battle Pass 12.
** The Diamond Chest contains a smaller selection of Epic and Legendary skins and mounts, and costs 300 Crystals. Players can earn one for free by reaching level 49 of the free Battle Pass (Except for Battle Pass 9 and 10).
** [[DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment The Flair Chest contains flairs]] (as in, stuff to show off). This includes emotes, [=MVP=] poses, avatars and the somewhat unusually named Titles (the text underneath one's username, for example; "[=God8898=] - ''The Impatient''"). It costs 50 Crystals and many can be earned from both the free and paid tracks of some Battle Passes.
** Event chests such as the "Little Box of Horrors" cost various amounts of Crystals and contain various items from past events or that share a specific theme.

* ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2'' is the TropeCodifier of this, with the Mann Co. Supply Crates. Crates randomly drop for free but require keys purchased from the Mann Co. Store to open, or traded for with Refined Metal, [[WeirdCurrency or just lots of cosmetic items]]. It's technically one of the first, if not the first, paid-for game that features lootboxes that we know in most valve games. However months after Mann Co. Supply Crates were added, the game was made free to play, although those who downloaded the game after it went [[AllegedlyFreeGame F2P]] will have a few limitations[[note]]Can't get rare random drops like paints and cosmetics via the drop system in-game, and you cannot play Competitive Mode[[/note]] compared to those who bought the game. To remove the restrictions, all the {{Free to Play}} players have to do is purchase either any store items (the cheapest item being less than a dollar), or the Orange Box bundle, both of which will remove the limitations)

* ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2'' is the TropeCodifier of this, with the Mann Co. Supply Crates. Crates randomly drop for free but require keys purchased from the Mann Co. Store to open, or traded for with Refined Metal, [[WeirdCurrency or just lots of cosmetic items]]. It's technically one of the first, if not the first, paid-for game that features lootboxes that we know in most valve games. However months after Mann Co. Supply Crates were added, the game was made free to play, although those who downloaded the game after it went {{F2P}} will have a few limitations[[note]]Can't get rare random drops like paints and cosmetics via the drop system in-game, and you cannot play Competitive Mode[[/note]] compared to those who bought the game. To remove the restrictions, all the {{Free to Play}} players have to do is purchase either any store items (the cheapest item being less than a dollar), or the Orange Box bundle, both of which will remove the limitations)

* ''ZT Online'', a Chinese MMORPG which entered public beta on 21 April [[OlderThanYouThink 2006]] with this as an inaugural feature, is the UrExample for this trope. In this game, boxes are obtained as {{plunder}} but each box requires a key that costs 1 yuan (one-sixth of an US dollar) to open. Unlike most Western-made examples that came after it, ''ZT Online''[='=]s lootboxes mostly contained [[BribingYourWayToVictory things essential to game advancement]] like crafting materials or outright equipment, with no conventional RandomDrops from monsters in sight other than the aforementioned plunder. The game was designed such that attempting to play it as an F2P was utterly futile, or as [[https://web.archive.org/web/20191119164156/http://www.danwei.org/electronic_games/gambling_your_life_away_in_zt.php one old article]] puts it, "you are unable to kill even a mosquito". Under governmental pressure, its use of loot boxes ended on 26 June, 2009.

* ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarships'' has "containers," though mostly they are earned for free just by doing the daily grind and have pretty predictable rewards (you can even pick which type you get which each have a theme around what's in them). During events you can purchase certain specific premium containers but again, the rewards are usually predictable and there is a free version with less of the same reward available through light grinding. The only controversial ones are the "Santa crates" available during the holidays. These have a chance to drop a premium ship, not controversial in itself. Where the BrokenBase starts is that this is ''any'' premium ship, even the [[GameBreaker overpowered]] ones that have been permanently removed from sale.

The first clear examples of this mechanic are the Chinese ''ZT Online'' (2007) and Canadian ''FIFA 09'' (2008). In East Asia, it would soon come to dominate the [[MobilePhoneGame mobile]] and [[BrowserGame browser]] gaming markets, where it's known as "gacha" after [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gashapon the toy capsule machines]][[note]]incidentally, "gacha" is also Mexican Spanish for "awful"; Mexican gamers often refer to abusive gacha games, or unfruitful gacha runs, as a "gacha muy gacha" (literally a "very bad gacha")[[/note]]. The term "lootboxes" [[TropeNamer was coined]] by ''VideoGame/{{Overwatch}}'' in 2016.

[[YMMV/HomePage Your Mileage May Vary]] on whether lootboxes are a detriment: While a lot of [[AllegedlyFreeGame allegedly free games]] use them as a PaperThinDisguise to hide that they allow BribingYourWayToVictory, some (mostly [[MobilePhoneGame mobile]]) games allow them to be earned freely, some have the lootboxes only contain {{Cosmetic Award}}s, some allow the purchase of items contained inside them through other means, some have the lootbox acquisition be parallel to just playing the game and not dropped along with your average [[RandomDrops random loot drops]], and some utilize lootboxes as their only way of monetising a FreeToPlay model. It's the vast difference in business models surrounding lootboxes that has made the general public skeptical of them, considering that one lootbox system may be ''wildly'' different to another despite appearing to be the same on the surface. Some countries in the European Union (namely, Belgium) have given up on attempting to differentiate them altogether, filing away any and all lootboxes under laws pertaining to [[HarmfulToMinors underage gambling]]. [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking The vast difference also makes it a pain to trope them sometimes]].

* ''Videogame/KantaiCollection'' has it in form of (Large) Ship Constructions. There, you issue an order to make a new [[MoeAnthropomorphism ship girl]], the results of which are random. The girls appropriately have "rarity grades" that signifies the chances of them being made. Constructing new ships simply requires the in-game resources as payment, but the building time tend to be long (especially for Large version).

Loot boxes serve as a point of contention due to ''[[SturgeonsLaw many]]'' [[AllegedlyFreeGame allegedly free games]] which have hidden real and tangible ways of BribingYourWayToVictory behind this [[GameplayRandomization randomized method of acquisition]]. It also crept into paid games, with ''Videogame/TeamFortress2'' and ''Videogame/CounterStrike: Global Offensive'' adding skin cases and the like.[[note]]though ''[=TF2=]'' would transition to free-to-play a few months later, which ''Global Offensive'' would go Free to Play ''six years later''[[/note]] Eventually governments would start investigating whether they should be regulated as ''gambling'' -- Japan has banned [[DismantledMacGuffin one particularly addictive form]] of the mechanic since 2012, and a 2016 Chinese ruling banned paid lootboxes completely, though both laws were filled with loopholes (such as how for the former, buying lootbox grants exclusive tokens to be used to purchase desirable prizes on display, and for the latter, lootboxes are technically not bought with real money, but additional in-game currency required to buy those lootboxes can be bought quicker with real money). The widespread backlash against ''Videogame/StarWarsBattlefrontII2017'' also lead to many countries in the Western hemisphere taking greater notice, with Belgium, the Netherlands and the Isle of Man implementing restrictions soon after, and the United Kingdom starting an investigation that lead to lootboxes being linked to problem gambling, and regulations are sure to follow with enough evidence.

Loot boxes serve as a point of contention due to ''[[SturgeonsLaw many]]'' [[AllegedlyFreeGame allegedly free games]] which have hidden real and tangible ways of BribingYourWayToVictory behind this [[GameplayRandomization randomized method of acquisition]]. It also crept into paid games, with ''Videogame/TeamFortress2'' and ''Videogame/CounterStrike: Global Offensive'' adding skin cases and the like.[[note]]though ''[=TF2=]'' would transition to free-to-play a few months later, which ''Global Offensive'' would go Free to Play ''six years later''[[/note]] Eventually governments would start investigating whether they should be regulated as ''gambling'' -- Japan has banned [[DismantledMacGuffin one particularly addictive form]] of the mechanic since 2012, and a 2016 Chinese ruling banned paid lootboxes completely, though both laws were filled with loopholes (publishers like Blizzard simply switched to [[LoopholeAbuse selling worthless items that included lootboxes as "free gifts"]]). The widespread backlash against ''Videogame/StarWarsBattlefrontII2017'' also lead to many countries in the Western hemisphere taking greater notice, with Belgium, the Netherlands and the Isle of Man implementing restrictions soon after, and the United Kingdom starting an investigation that lead to lootboxes being linked to problem gambling, and regulations are sure to follow with enough evidence.

* ''Videogame/VermintideII'' also has this feature. In a twist, all loot boxes must be earned through gameplay and cannot be bought through microtransactions, making this more a combination with RandomlyDrops.

* Parodied in ''Piczle Cross Adventure'', in which one of the puzzle images reveals a green "Loot Crate." PlayerCharacter Score-chan complains that [[NoFourthWall even her own games are resorting to them and opens it]] to reveal one coin of "in-game currency." No real-world money is actually spent to obtain it though.

* ''Videogame/MiddleEarthShadowOfWar'' is one of the most infamous aside from ''Videogame/StarWarsBattlefrontII2017''. The game is largely a single-player experience, with the only multiplayer component being a ladder system involving invading other players' fortresses against whatever orcs they've stationed there. Where it becomes a problem is in the Epilogue, Shadow Wars, where you need to complete a long series of fortress defense missions to get the true ending. Later phases of Shadow Wars becomes a grueling task of finding the most optimized orcs to successfully defend or retake fortresses, and loot boxes encouraged speeding up the process. A year after release, the game completely removed the loot box system and made the Epilogue much shorter.

!!Examples

* ''Videogame/MiddleEarthShadowOfWar'' is one of the most infamous aside from ''Videogame/StarWarsBattlefrontII2017'', to the point that a year after release the loot box system removed.

** This has been an [=ArcSys=] staple since ''VideoGame/BlazblueChronophantasma Extend'', which started the trend of using in-game money (which used to be for concept art and buying the stuff directly so you didn’t need to waste time struggling to get stuff for your main/favourites) and has continued since.