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Summary
- An Austrian court ruled that FUT packs are a form of gambling
- A number of Austrian players sued Sony in 2020 over the FUT packs issue
- Sony has been ordered to pay out refunds to the plaintiffs
A court in Austria has ordered technology firm Sony to issue refunds to Austrian players after it ruled that FIFA Ultimate Team packs, also known as “FUT packs“, are a form of gambling.
Sony was sued by several Austrian players in 2020 over the FUT packs issue, claiming that buying the packs is akin to gambling as players spend money in exchange for a valuable item.
FUT Packs A Form of Gambling
FUT packs work exactly like loot boxes. They contain a random selection of items that players can purchase using real money. Upon buying the mystery packs, players don’t know what’s in them until they’re opened. The virtual items are then used by players to upgrade their game. The loot box mechanism in video games has been a widely debated issue, with some countries considering it a form of gambling.
The virtual items in FUT packs are represented by football players. To assemble the best team, customers should purchase packs of cards with prices going as high as £30. But they won’t know the quality of the items inside the packs until they open them. Players can repeatedly buy the packs until they form their dream squad.
A small court in the district of Hermagor declared that the FUT pack system violates Austria’s gambling laws as it offers a “financial benefit” to players through the value of the random items that they receive after buying the packs. This constitutes a game of chance and cannot be offered to Austrian players without the required license.
The plaintiffs allegedly purchased the FUT packs via Sony’s PlayStation Store. Among them was a minor who had spent more than €400 on the mystery packs, the lawsuit claimed.
Sony has been ordered to issue €338.26 in refunds to the plaintiffs, though the decision is not yet final and the company may still launch an appeal.
Electronic Arts Making Massive Profits from FUT Packs
FIFA is a series of association football games developed by Electronic Arts under the EA Sports brand. The American video game company has been making huge profits from FIFA sales, with the FUT pack feature contributing over $1 billion to the company’s net revenue over the past few years.
