2K has removed some elements of microtransactions from its basketball franchise, NBA 2K, in a bid to comply with gambling laws in Belgium and the Netherlands.
According to Rock, Paper, Shotgun, two undated statements on the basketball arcade game’s website detail how the developer has had to strip the option to buy MyTeam packs – the NBA 2K equivalent of loot crates – from the title in Belgium, whereas in the Netherlands, players will not be able to access Auction House, a feature that permits you to buy and sell your players.
In Belgium, MyTeam packs can remain on the premise that players may only use their in-game currency to purchase them, but given the law in the Netherlands prohibits “games which include ‘loot box’ style mechanics if the items they contain are transferable”, Auction House has been removed in its entirety while 2K works on a solution.
Source: Eurogamer 2K makes changes to NBA 2K microtransactions to comply with Belgium and Dutch gambling laws