After years of being criticized for its loot boxes policy, Electronic Arts has decided to make the so-called “Preview Packs” a permanent feature in FIFA 22. These packs let players look at all specific items inside loot boxes before buying them.
The company announced the feature in a blog post on September 16. At launch, players will be able to look inside premium Gold and Silver packs on a 24-hour refresh timer. It means that if you don’t like the content and don’t want to buy it, you will have to wait a whole day before opening a new one.
EA first introduced the “Preview Packs” in June as a part of the Festival of FUTball. It was a time-limited event made to test the new feature. According to the company, it received a “positive reception” from fans and boosted the loot boxes sales.
Last year alone, EA made $1.62 billion from loot boxes, which accounts for 29% of the publisher’s total revenue. However, the company has been criticized for its policy for years, also drawing the attention of regulators from different countries.