Nintendo is facing a lawsuit in relation to the Spotlight Pipes lootboxes that were available in mobile game Mario Kart Tour until September 2022.
As reported by Axios, the plaintiff is a young gamer who spent more than $170 on Mario Kart Tour microtransactions using their father's credit card. The lawsuit alleges that the lootboxes "capitalised on and encouraged addictive behaviours akin to gambling" and calls for refunds for all minors in the U.S. who bought them.
Mario Kart Tour's Spotlight Pipes were fairly typical lootboxes, letting players pay real money to receive a randomly selected reward, though the suit claims Nintendo made it difficult to progress in the game without purchasing them and tricked players into spending more money than they would like to.
These practices are alleged to violate California business law and Washington State's Consumer Protection Act.
Nintendo removed this lootbox method of purchasing items from Mario Kart Tour in September last year and now incorporates microtransactions through a more standard in-game shop, where users can simply purchase the item they want.
IGN has reached out to Nintendo for comment on the lawsuit.
Lootboxes have come under fire from various governments and consumer groups in recent years, with many likening their random drop rates to gambling. Belgium and the Netherlands banned the practice in 2018 unless the companies selling them have a gambling license, and some U.S. politicans also took a stance against lootboxes in 2021.
The Norwegian Consumer Council last year called their presence in games manipulative and exploitative in a report backed by consumer groups across Europe, though the UK opted not to introduce laws against lootboxes around the same time.
Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelancer and acting UK news editor. He'll talk about The Witcher all day.