While the countdown for Diablo Immortal has begun, the fact that the game will not be released in some countries has come to light. GamesIndustry.biz and Tweakers reported that Blizzard will not release the free-to-play game in Belgium and the Netherlands due to “gambling restrictions”, i.e. laws banning loot boxes. It will also be illegal for people in these countries to download them from other regions, and Blizzard’s support team has explained that they will not be responsible if players in the affected countries play the game.
Belgium and the Netherlands ruled in 2018 that certain loot boxes, specifically that you can buy or exchange for real money, amount to gambling. This is how Diablo Immortal has access to the best stat boosting items, such as some legendary gems, behind legendary crests that are usually easier to obtain with real world currency. While the items you receive are generally good, it is a fact that they are random. So the Netherlands and Belgium think they could theoretically force players to pay in hopes of getting the ‘perfect’ crest, and dependency issues could arise.
Blizzard had previously stopped sales of loot boxes for their other games in Belgium. Despite this, it is noteworthy that Blizzard chose to pull Diablo Immortal completely from these countries instead of changing the game mechanics.
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