Video game firms found to have broken their own industry rules on loot boxes

Government criticised over decision to let companies self-regulate gambling-style features after expert finds numerous breaches

The government’s decision to let technology companies self-regulate gambling-style loot boxes in video games has been called into question, after some of the developers put in charge of new industry guidelines broke their own rules.

In the past six months, the advertising regulator has upheld complaints against three companies involved in drawing up industry rules, including the leading developer Electronic Arts (EA), for failing to disclose that their games contained loot boxes.