Since loot boxes are the primary system that defines microtransactions in gaming, it’s outright impossible to avoid them these days. They represent one of the primary strategies behind the profit-making process of the current gaming industry. They are a multi-faceted, complex phenomenon that has both economic and psychological effects.
We generally understand playing video games as a simple form of entertainment. We perceive them as a leisure activity, but the truth is that they surpassed this dimension a long time ago. Competitiveness is another essential mark of gaming. However, one of the great reasons behind present-day player motivation has become instant digital rewards.
This is where things get unexpectedly complex. If you’ve ever opened a pack of cards, a loot box, or spun a fortune wheel, you’re well aware of the thrill attached. Unfortunately, this is the context in which the idea of video game addiction started appearing more and more.
While the previously mainstream reasons behind gaming-related addiction have been associated with overplaying, microtransactions have been garnering this type of attention. We guide ourselves according to gaming ethics, so we felt it was our duty to discuss the psychology behind loot boxes.
We believe that all entities attached to various forms of gaming, like SlotsCalendar and their iGaming ties) and our platform must be transparent about potential drawbacks. As such, here is what the content of loot boxes looks like psychologically.
What are loot boxes?
It may be so that you are a casual gamer who has reached our website searching for more answers. Perhaps you simply found the theme of this article interesting but aren’t really aware of what look boxes are. If such a case applies, we feel compelled to provide some definitions and explanations before delving into the psychology of this phenomenon.
Firstly, you need to know that the name loot box refers to a specific kind of reward that can take many forms and denominations. At their root, loot boxes are digital rewards that provide you with completely virtual items, boosters, consumables, and other in-game items.
You will immediately receive a randomized reward once you receive (or buy, hence the microtransaction name) a loot box. In many cases, these loot boxes can have various tiers that influence the value of the reward pool.
These rewards can be functional (usable player cards in the games formerly known as FIFA) or purely aesthetic (collectible skins in games like Counter-Strike). What the official name of this system is matters less—if you receive in-game items after buying this randomly generated bundle, it’s the same principle.
How their effects look like
Now, even if you’re just slightly into psychology, you must’ve found some interesting patterns hidden along the lines of the definitions of loot boxes. This would automatically prove that they are more than simple in-game transactions.
You may find them in various contexts, from online gambling to simple FPS shooters. However, once you step back and standardize the effects, you will find similar results across the board.
Psychologists and psychiatrists have analyzed how the situation revolving around loot boxes looks like in terms of mental impact:
- The surge of dopamine – The secretion of the neurotransmitter dopamine is closely associated with brain stimulation. The joy and excitement of opening such a loot box significantly increases this physiological effect, which directly impacts the psyche.
- Cognitive biases like the impact of near-misses and cliffhangers – Getting a reward and feeling like knowing its content is paramount can prove very important for players. The frustration of nearly losing out on a valuable reward can be just as intense of a motivator to continue playing.
- The tendency of escalating – Escalation can go both ways. If your reward isn’t satisfying, you may think you’d rather open another box to recoup your losses. If you continue to play and chase replicating previous wins, it has the same effects as the escalation.
Their potential drawbacks
If you give the previously mentioned effects a second look, you’ll observe that they can potentially drive you forward into more ‘gameplay’ (opening boxes). The companies that offer them understand the behavioral economics behind this process. As such, the consumer is likelier to try and do their utmost to continue opening boxes.
The two elephants in the room are addiction and financial responsibility. You can draw parallels among them quite easily. Opening boxes compulsively for the activation of your dopamine surge can quickly lead to addiction. And ultimately, being addicted to this form of disguised gambling is an undeniable path toward financial losses.
Conclusion
As this article mentioned, loot boxes have multiple psychological effects that make them exciting yet dangerous in gaming. We all know how the community felt about microtransactions when they first appeared.
Since many people started enjoying them due to their impact on their psyche, we recommend being more circumspect. To ensure such a thing, always remember to play responsibly!
