loot box

/ˈluːt bɑːks/
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A chance-based reward container in games, usually earned or bought before its virtual contents are revealed and often discussed in debates about microtransactions and gambling-like design.

Examples

  • Completing the daily challenge awarded one free loot box.
  • Parents complained that paid loot boxes made the game feel like gambling.
  • The studio published the drop rates for each loot box.
  • Players could buy a loot box without knowing which item it contained.
  • The update added loot boxes with rare skins and voice lines.

Similar words

surprise box
prize crate
item pack
mystery box
gacha box
reward chest
loot crate
random reward box

Meanings

Usage

Use the phrase for virtual game rewards whose contents are random or hidden until opening.

Common mistakes

Calling any physical mystery package a loot box or using the phrase as a verb blurs the gaming sense.

Etymology

Formed in video-game English from loot, meaning valuable items gained in play, and box, after the container-like interface used for chance rewards.

FAQ

What does loot box mean?

A loot box is a virtual game container that gives random in-game items when opened.

How does a loot box work?

A game grants or sells the container, then reveals random rewards such as skins, weapons, characters, or currency when it is opened.

Why are loot boxes controversial?

They can combine real-money spending with chance-based rewards, which raises consumer-protection and gambling-like design concerns.

Are loot boxes always paid?

No. Some are earned through play, while others are sold directly or unlocked with paid in-game currency.

Is a loot box the same as gacha?

They are closely related. Gacha is a wider style of random reward system, and a loot box is one common game form of it.

What is a loot box drop rate?

A drop rate is the stated or hidden chance that a loot box will contain a particular reward.

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