Electronic Arts Hit With Class-Action Lawsuit Over Ultimate Team Loot Boxes

Publisher Electronic Arts will face a class-action lawsuit that argues Ultimate Team mode in its FIFA and Madden franchises break gambling laws.

EA Sports brought in an incredible $1.49bn through the highly popular online mode in 2020, according to stunning reports.

But EA has been heavily criticised for the loot boxes used in Ultimate Team and has now been hit with a lawsuit in the US.

According to GamesIndustry.biz, the lawsuit has been filed in the Northern District of California.

The publication added that the lawsuit makes specific mention of California's gambling laws as it outlines its case for FIFA and Madden to be regulated under them.

VGC cites court documents that reveal the case was brought forward on 13th August by plaintiff Kevin Ramirez, who is representing a proposed class of more than 100 people.

PA

PA

Ramirez is calling for the trial to take place with a jury and is seeking damages of $5m, according to reports.

The plaintiff has claimed that Ultimate Team 'compelled' him to splash out more than $600 in both FIFA and Madden since 2011.

Ramirez's case is also arguing that EA "relies on creating addictive behaviours in consumers to generate huge revenues."

The case reads: "EA's Ultimate Team packs are loot boxes. Buying the packs are nothing more than a gambling bet.

PA

"Purchased using real money, the Ultimate Team packs are simply wagers on completely randomised chances within the game to win valuable professional players and other items for the EA gamer's virtual sports team."

California has outlined its definition of an illegal gambling device as "a machine, aperture or device; something of value is given to play; and the player may receive something of value by element of chance."

EA could continue to face further pressure on loot boxes after the House of Lords Gambling Committee called for it to be regulated under gambling laws in the UK.

The publisher has previously been hit with a lawsuit in France over the idea that FIFA Ultimate Team should be classified as gambling.

Topics: gaming news, GAMING, FIFA, FUT, EA, Electronic Arts, EA Sports, Ultimate Team

Adnan Riaz

Adnan Riaz is a journalist for SPORTbible. He studied for a B.A. in History at the University of York and followed it up with an M.A. in Multimedia Journalism at MMU. Before he started writing about sports, he spent over four years in the gaming press. He has worked for several publications, including Hardcore Gamer, LADbible and the Manchester Evening News. Follow him on Twitter to find out what he is working on next. Got a story tip for Adnan? Email him: [email protected]

@AdnanRiaz9