Webzen to Discontinue Service in The Netherlands Over Loot Box Ruling - Mu Origin- MMORPG.com

SBFord · May 2018

Webzen to Discontinue Service in The Netherlands Over Loot Box Ruling - Mu Origin- MMORPG.com

Mu Origin News - Editor's Note: When originally reported, we indicated MU Legend would be closing. This is our error. MU Origin, not Legend, is closing, though the facts of the closure remain the same. MU Legend's service will remain in operation. ORIGINAL: Webzen has announced that it is cutting service for MU Origin in The Netherlands as a result of the Dutch Gaming Authority's ruling against in-game loot boxes beginning June 20th.

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SBFord · May 2018

Interesting that, rather than change their loot boxes or the way the game is monetized, it's just easier to leave. Well, MU Legend may be the first, but I doubt it'll be the last.

zenomex · May 2018

Correction: The Netherlands'

jnugget173 · May 2018

SBFord said:

Interesting that, rather than change their loot boxes or the way the game is monetized, it's just easier to leave. Well, MU Legend may be the first, but I doubt it'll be the last.

i guess money is more important

k61977 · May 2018

Here's hoping more and more countries will do this. Glad somewhere some country stuck to their guns. Yeah it might not cost them too many players as most will just go around the system if they want to play, but it is a step in the right direction.

Sovrath · May 2018

jnugget173 said:

SBFord said:

Interesting that, rather than change their loot boxes or the way the game is monetized, it's just easier to leave. Well, MU Legend may be the first, but I doubt it'll be the last.

i guess money is more important

Well, it's a company why wouldn't it be important?

This is their business model. If they can't make what they want to/need to make then yeah, makes sense the will shut it down.

SBFord · May 2018

jnugget173 said:

SBFord said:

Interesting that, rather than change their loot boxes or the way the game is monetized, it's just easier to leave. Well, MU Legend may be the first, but I doubt it'll be the last.

i guess money is more important

If money is more important, they'd have found a way to keep the game open in Holland.

Can't blame them for not reworking it for just one country. Perhaps if this loot box legislation spreads outside of The Netherlands and Belgium and into larger markets, they will rethink their position.

Xingbairong · May 2018

SBFord said:

jnugget173 said:

SBFord said:

Interesting that, rather than change their loot boxes or the way the game is monetized, it's just easier to leave. Well, MU Legend may be the first, but I doubt it'll be the last.

i guess money is more important

If money is more important, they'd have found a way to keep the game open in Holland.

Can't blame them for not reworking it for just one country. Perhaps if this loot box legislation spreads outside of The Netherlands and Belgium and into larger markets, they will rethink their position.

If more countries follow especially the big money bringers like UK, Germany etc.. for EU for example I'm sure they would change, but I'm pretty sure they have looked at the number of Dutch players they have and have decided that it's more money efficient to just take this route.

Elvoc · May 2018

Does anyone else think its sad that the government or "Dutch Gaming Authority" actually took this measure for a game, its not like they prevented any physical harm or loss of life, there has got to be better things for their government body to spend time on..

mgilbrtsn · May 2018

jnugget173 said:

SBFord said:

Interesting that, rather than change their loot boxes or the way the game is monetized, it's just easier to leave. Well, MU Legend may be the first, but I doubt it'll be the last.

i guess money is more important

For a company which requires money. Absolutely.

Phry · May 2018

The chances of those bans spreading to the rest of Europe is pretty high though, so its a temporary measure at best.

Aeander · May 2018

Elvoc said:

Does anyone else think its sad that the government or "Dutch Gaming Authority" actually took this measure for a game, its not like they prevented any physical harm or loss of life, there has got to be better things for their government body to spend time on..

This line of thought has always baffled me. By this logic, no problem should ever be addressed because there is a greater problem.

High unemployment? Not even worth addressing because masses are starving in Africa. Oh wait, that isn't worth our time because there is an attempted genocide going on in some other country. But that also needs to be put on the backburner because, ultimately, the entire galaxy is going to be pulled into a black hole one day.

My point is this... bigger problems don't trivialize smaller ones. All problems are worthy of being solved because they are problems. Often, the small problems are the ones with the simplest solutions and in fixing these, we improve our society in a small way, freeing us up to tackle the larger issues.

alkarionlog · May 2018

SBFord said:

Interesting that, rather than change their loot boxes or the way the game is monetized, it's just easier to leave. Well, MU Legend may be the first, but I doubt it'll be the last.

nope, not interesting, simple easier, plus I bet the net of loot boxes from there is pretty low too, so cheaper to leave, its just a smal country not that big of deal, now if was the whole europe or a bigger country changes would happen

Sephiroso · May 2018

DMKano said:

Sometimes the best actions that would benefit the world are the least popular ones, the problem with humanity is that we are too wrapped up in superficial issues to even notice the foundation crumbling right under our feet.

Oh i think we notice it, we just continue to let it happen while staring at it in the face.

zenomex · May 2018

I love my country

Regarding serving to potential voters, this issue is definitely not in our headlines xD

tomek2626 · May 2018

this just way thay ywone blackmail europ to drop this loot box law thay cut off lowest region off and other in feer of losing games wil push presion for droping law ageinst loot boxes i hope the europ gaming comunity wil not fal on this trick and stick to law ageinst loot boxes

MadFrenchie · May 2018

DMKano said:

Elvoc said:

Does anyone else think its sad that the government or "Dutch Gaming Authority" actually took this measure for a game, its not like they prevented any physical harm or loss of life, there has got to be better things for their government body to spend time on..

The government is more concerned about self-preservation and what will win them next election than anything else.

This was low hanging fruit - aka easy pickins - this made them look good in the eyes of potential voters

Really tough or risky issues - it might make the public angry so loss of votes, they don't want to risk that

Sometimes the best actions that would benefit the world are the least popular ones, the problem with humanity is that we are too wrapped up in superficial issues to even notice the foundation crumbling right under our feet.

Governments always juggle multiple issues. Likely, the Dutch government has large issues they're looking to tackle, and are actively doing so, but this is something that seemed clear to them from the Gaming Authority's review, so it was easy points.

Whenever I see someone criticize the works of a representative democratic government, I feel the need to remind folks that these governments are, well, representative of the people they serve. Incumbent voting records are available to the public. We, in all countries, could do a much better job of electing our leaders and directing their attention. Here in the U.S., we reelect incumbents after wholesale disapproving of the job they've done. We're all nutty like that.

Xiaoki · May 2018

I like how short-sighted reactionary this law is.

There are plenty of MMOs with loot boxes that are FAR worse than whats in PUBG or Overwatch but they are the kind that drop as loot as=nd you buy the keys to open them.

Also, banning loot boxes in Neverwinter Online or Secret World Legends isnt headline grabbing.

And I wouldnt mind if a few more video game companies stopped service entirely and even sued the Dutch government. It would be a great fight to see play out and to see who breaks first.

alkarionlog · May 2018

Xiaoki said:

I like how short-sighted reactionary this law is.

There are plenty of MMOs with loot boxes that are FAR worse than whats in PUBG or Overwatch but they are the kind that drop as loot as=nd you buy the keys to open them.

Also, banning loot boxes in Neverwinter Online or Secret World Legends isnt headline grabbing.

And I wouldnt mind if a few more video game companies stopped service entirely and even sued the Dutch government. It would be a great fight to see play out and to see who breaks first.

you can't really sue the goverment for that, you can try but good luck anything other then that, rpoblem is goverments are never looking after you, they just want to manipulate and control you and tax everything, most thing they ban are things they can't tax, banning loot boxes is a good move? for me it is, nothing good came from it, worse most gameplay are made around it, but also is not a good thing a goverment put his little tentacle on bussiness, the fool and his money are easier to part, hence why people buy apple products but I don't see anyone wanting to ban that

JeroKane · May 2018

DMKano said:

Elvoc said:

Does anyone else think its sad that the government or "Dutch Gaming Authority" actually took this measure for a game, its not like they prevented any physical harm or loss of life, there has got to be better things for their government body to spend time on..

The government is more concerned about self-preservation and what will win them next election than anything else.

This was low hanging fruit - aka easy pickins - this made them look good in the eyes of potential voters

Really tough or risky issues - it might make the public angry so loss of votes, they don't want to risk that

Sometimes the best actions that would benefit the world are the least popular ones, the problem with humanity is that we are too wrapped up in superficial issues to even notice the foundation crumbling right under our feet.

The Netherlands isn't the US ( I am from Holland ). It has nothing to do with election (since there isn't one for a long while) nor politics.

It's the government finally taking action against gambling targeted against kids!

Loot boxes is the worst kind of monetization that has invaded the gaming market!

Netherlands and Belgium will be the first to take action, but it will soon be an EU wide legislation.

Then these crap companies will sing a different tune.

I have absolutely nothing against F2P games with ingame cash shops for cosmetic stuff, etc.

Loot boxes however! I absolutely hate with a passion! Since it specifically targets people with a gambling addiction! It has no place in games!

Let gambling stay where it always was. Inside casino's!

PS. Webzen is a terrible company with a notorious reputation anyway. So I hardly doubt people in Holland will cry over it lol.

Vrika · May 2018

Xiaoki said:

And I wouldnt mind if a few more video game companies stopped service entirely and even sued the Dutch government. It would be a great fight to see play out and to see who breaks first.

Normally companies can't sue the government for making legislation. You can complain if you think an official decision does not follow the legislation, but a sovereign country has right to pass legislation that makes your current business illegal and if that happens you're out of luck. You have to stop, and you won't be compensated for your losses.

FrodoFragins · May 2018

SBFord said:

Interesting that, rather than change their loot boxes or the way the game is monetized, it's just easier to leave. Well, MU Legend may be the first, but I doubt it'll be the last.

korean devs aren't particularly adept at adapting to the west as it is. This is no surprise

lahnmir · May 2018

Elvoc said:

Does anyone else think its sad that the government or "Dutch Gaming Authority" actually took this measure for a game, its not like they prevented any physical harm or loss of life, there has got to be better things for their government body to spend time on..

Not really, we are one of the highest rated countries in the world when it comes to quality of life. With a company like Webzen slowly retreating it can only get better, next up EA

/Cheers,
Lahnmir

Seelinnikoi · May 2018

Can someone explain to me how would they "fix" the lootboxes as not to appear gambling?

Sephiroso · May 2018

Seelinnikoi said:

Can someone explain to me how would they "fix" the lootboxes as not to appear gambling?

Have the lootboxes drop in game, and you buy a key from cash shop.

Nightbringe1 · May 2018

SBFord said:

Interesting that, rather than change their loot boxes or the way the game is monetized, it's just easier to leave. Well, MU Legend may be the first, but I doubt it'll be the last.

It will take a larger market than the Netherlands before the gaming companies change their monetization models.

Now, if the entire EU made the same ruling, then you would see real change.

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