After further discussions with the Belgian authorities, we decided not to offer FIFA points for sale in Belgium anymore," said Electronic Arts, the developer of the FIFA games, in a communication. These points can be used to buy packages with players, although you don't know what you'll get. "That's gambling," says the Belgian gambling commission. These FIFA points can be used to purchase so-called 'ultimate team packages' in the game. These are digital surprise packages or loot boxes with well-known players. On the EA site you can even find the probability per category of player. The better the player, the smaller the chance.
EA always shroudedly called it 'a way of playing' or 'pin dynamics', but since you can not only win FIFA points, but can also buy them with real money, that's clearly 'gambling', according to the Belgian gambling commission. EA says it is "disappointed". "Although we are taking this step, we don't agree with the Belgian authorities' interpretation of the law and we're still looking for more clarity on this", it sounds in a communication. "The impact of this change on FIFA Ultimate Team in Belgium has no material impact on our financial performance.
The creator of the game alludes that the revenues from these surprise packages are small. A small survey among advanced players shows that 'bought team' with such packages can quickly cost 5,000 euros.
Figures show that EA generates about 67 percent of all revenues, about 3 billion euros, from digital sales. According to business magazine Forbes, the share of 'surprise packages' in this is crucial.
Anyone who in the past 'won' or 'bought' players in this way may keep it that way. "Players still have access to the Ultimate Team game mode and can continue playing with their current players. All content of the game can, as has always been the case, be won by playing the game and players can continue to use coins and the transfer market.
Previously, other major developers such as Blizzard (Overwatch, World of Warcraft) and 2K (NBA 2K) and VALVE tacked.