The big loot box debate continues, and this time the consumer has won in the case of Forza Motorsport 7.
Turn 10 Studios has announced that Prize Crates (which is just a different name for loot box, you sneaky sausages) will be completely removed from Forza Motorsport 7 in the coming months. Additionally, paid tokens which have been a part of previous Forza games will not be coming to Forza Motorsport 7 or the upcoming Forza Horizon 4.
Forza Motorsport 7’s controversial loot boxes are free as such; they are purchased with the players in-game currency and then the results of what you get for your hard-earned in-game credits are down to luck. It is a system that was widely criticized and derided throughout the gaming community. If it wasn’t for the outcry against the system, it’s hard to believe that these prize crates weren’t going to be available as a real money purchase at some point.
In a blog post outlining the change, Turn 10’s Alan Hartman said:
“While we’ve never charged money for prize crates in Forza Motorsport 7, their presence in the game has continued to be a source of controversy,” Studio Head Alan Hartman explained. “The overwhelming feedback has been that this system feels out of place in the game. After careful consideration, we have decided to completely remove prize crates from Forza Motorsport 7. Starting this month we’ve already taken steps towards that goal, first by unlocking more than 100 previously locked ‘exclusive’ cars and, second, by completely removing cars from the prize crates in the game,” continued Hartman. “The current lineup of prize crates offer no competitive advantage and only offer driver gear suits, mods, and badges, and these crates will remain in place until crates are removed entirely.”
Loot boxes have become a commonplace of games in recent times, they are a cause of controversy and much debate (I’m looking at you, Star Wars: Battlefront II), and I think I speak for the masses when I say it’s something that we want to see less of, particularly in full price releases. Although there will always be the argument of “they shouldn’t be there in the first place”, it is good to see a developer listening to their player base, and it’s good to know that this system won’t be included in Forza Horizon 4.
Small victories, one game at a time.
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