More info on the Act and context: https://www.digital-fairness-act.com/

YouTube video info: “The Law Finally Caught Up, EVERY AAA Is In Trouble” by Bellular News. (the preview for some reason is coming up in German for me, sorry no idea why if it is for you too - the video is in English).

The video talks about how the Act will affect mostly AAA title’s use of digital game currency and loot boxes, namely that the act will ‘disallow’ things like buying lump sum amounts of game currency instead of just spending the exact amount of game currency on an in game purchase, dark patterns ‘encouraging’ or tricking people into spending on game currency/loot boxes, limited time deals, etc.

Disclaimer: I don’t live in the EU and I don’t completely understand the full implications of this or if it would affect Frontier and ED at all.

So in terms of ED, Frontier possibly wouldn’t be allowed to sell ARX as a bulk lot and instead you would just pay for the amount of ARX needed for a paint job or whatever.

Personally I find having to buy set amounts vaguely annoying and yes there are times I wish I could just purchase the exact amount required but I usually only buy things when there’s a sale so I’m usually buying a bunch of stuff at once anyway.

What are your thoughts on how this could (if at all) affect the ARX store and Frontier commanders?

  • arudesalad@sh.itjust.works
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    4
    ·
    8 days ago

    FD are based in the UK and so technically don’t have to comply. However, their games are sold in the EU so they do have to comply at least within the EU. Hopefully they extend it to the rest of the world though.

    There are two ways they can do this. Add a “buy” button and a “buy with arx button” or allow arx to be spent as a store credit (like a steam wallet) so you don’t have to buy more arx for the miniscule amount you earn while playing to be useful, I think this is the less likely option though, because money.

    • poinck@lemm.ee
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      2
      ·
      8 days ago

      That idea means, I need a payment method at Frontier. Currently I buy Arx through Steam.

      But what would this mean for the Arx you earn during gameplay?

  • rc__buggy@sh.itjust.works
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    2
    ·
    edit-2
    8 days ago

    Seems like elite could keep bulk purchases of ARX as long as they also allowed the player to buy just the amount necessary.

    So people who want bonus ARX could buy a pack, people who only want the paint and don’t want to wait the weeks for in game ARX could spend the minimum.

    edit: oh, and probably no FOMO time limited sales like with that latest spinning bobblehead

    • arudesalad@sh.itjust.works
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      3
      ·
      7 days ago

      I should double check but I think the bonus arx you get for buying a lot at once is also against what the EU want to do