Want to stay clear from games with loot boxes and gacha? Well, the ESRB’s new label might help you with that.

The games rating organization has introduced a new member to their “Interactive Elements” family: “In-Game Purchases (Includes Random Items)”. While the label itself doesn’t mention loot boxes or gacha, the ESRB’s explanation on their blog clarifies that those systems are what this label is meant to target.

#ESRB will begin assigning a new Interactive Element, In-Game Purchases (Includes Random Items).

Find out more in our new blog: https://t.co/LPhd5rl7VL pic.twitter.com/nO6p8r1yYJ

— ESRB (@ESRBRatings) April 13, 2020

They wrote, “This new Interactive Element, In-Game Purchases (Includes Random Items), will be assigned to any game that contains in-game offers to purchase digital goods or premiums with real world currency (or with virtual coins or other forms of in-game currency that can be purchased with real world currency) for which the player doesn’t know prior to purchase the specific digital goods or premiums they will be receiving (e.g., loot boxes, item packs, mystery awards)

“In-Game Purchases (Includes Random Items) will be assigned to all games that include purchases with any randomized elements, including loot boxes, gacha games, item or card packs, prize wheels, treasure chests, and more. Games that have the In-Game Purchases (Includes Random Items) notice may also include other non-randomized paid elements.”

I’m pretty much on board with this move, but many Twitter users feel that it’s not enough. Streamer Zack (@Asmongold) commented, “I don’t like how you’re using a euphemism for gambling and assigning it a separate place rather than weighing it against the actual rating for the game Its deliberately misleading and minimizing towards something that promotes impulsive behavior and psychological addiction.”

I dont like how you're using a euphemism for gambling and assigning it a separate place rather than weighing it against the actual rating for the game

Its deliberately misleading and minimizing towards something that promotes impulsive behavior and psychological addiction

— Zack (@Asmongold) April 13, 2020

Meanwhile, Cam Adair (@camerondare) pointed out that a descriptor like random items “does not accurately describe risking real money for the CHANCE to win items you can sell for real money”. Ryuji (@azuma_ryuji) on the other hand acknowledged that the move was “a step in the right direction”, but added that it wasn’t enough when “Games like Mario Kart Tour unashamedly contain the most egregious elements of gambling and should be labeled as such. It’s particularly horrendous because of how kid-friendly it is”. A few others said that games with loot boxes and gacha should be rated M (Mature) or AO (Adults Only).

While it feels like the discourse around loot boxes has gotten quiet this year (to be fair, there is a pandemic going on right now), they made the news quite a few times last year. Regardless, it’s clear that the ESRB’s new label, while better than nothing, far from marks the end of the conversation.