Blizzard hires and uses psychologists to design Hearthstone

To me, a gaming company has a responsibility to ensure their products do not lead to problem gambling.

The fact these gaming companies are using psychologists while implementing loot box and gacha mechanics, is incredibly, incredibly, disturbing.

Blizzard should have removed loot boxes when studies like these recently surfaced.

Dr James Close, Senior Research Fellow, University of Plymouth:

“Our work has established that engagement with loot boxes is associated with problem gambling behaviours, with players encouraged to purchase through psychological techniques such as ‘fear of missing out’. We have also demonstrated that at-risk individuals, such as problem gamblers, gamers, and young people, make disproportionate contributions to loot box revenues. Younger males, and those with a lower educational attainment are more likely to purchase loot boxes."

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