Blizzard look set to remove the ability to buy loot boxes using real money in Heroes of the Storm with a coming update, having noted the change in a Public Test Realm update. Microtransactions still remain in the game, letting you purchase heroes, bundles and so on, just that the randomised loot boxes have been removed.
No reason has been given for the change, but the notes say:
- Loot chests are no longer available for Gem purchase
- Rare loot chests are now available for Gold purchase (3000 each)
There’s a few possible explanations for why Blizzard have made the change, with numerous world governments making moves to outlaw or class microstransaction-based loot boxes as gambling. That’s perhaps the most likely reasoning, but there’s also the fact that Blizzard recently started to move developers and resources away from their MOBA.
