TLDR they don’t want the regulations at all. Which in the us their is currently only threat of such.
If it actually gets regulated, a lot different games are going to be hit regardless. Even with business practices that have nothing to do with loot boxes.
Regardless of it effecting the "free boxes’ are not, their already on the verge of handing control on how they actually get to sell things to the gov.
which is why your not going to see those boxes back, because it could very much be the sign the government is looking for to push through with regulations.