Loot Box
Etymology
Growing out of Asian “gacha” mechanics in the 2000s and spreading through Western games by the 2010s, loot boxes let players spend real money for a chance at virtual rewards. The randomized payout drew regulators, and several countries have classified some loot boxes as gambling. The name is plain: a box of loot, contents unknown.
noun phrase · /LOOT boks/
A purchasable in-game container whose contents are randomized, so buyers pay without knowing what they will get.
What it names
A monetization device that imports gambling’s mechanics into games sold to all ages.
Example
He spent forty dollars on loot boxes chasing one rare skin the odds barely offered.
Related idea
Loot boxes exploit the same variable-reward wiring as a slot machine, and often target the whale — the minority of players who spend heavily.
See also