Most complaints about loot boxes (aka “surprise mechanics”) in games are levelled against the developers, but the latest is aiming at the stores offering those games. AppleInsider has learned of a potential class action lawsuit accusing Apple of profiting from the distribution of games with loot boxes, whose gambling element allegedly violates California law. The company is tacitly aware that loot boxes are gambling as it requires that creators disclose the “odds of winning,” according to the lawsuit, but it doesn’t ask for a notification that loot boxes exist. Companies are also allowed to set their own age ratings, making it possible for an app deemed kid-friendly to include gambling elements.

The lawsuit cites numerous games that rely on loot boxes (if sometimes indirectly), including Mario Kart Tour, FIFA Soccer, Roblox and Brawl Stars. The lawsuit was filed by Rebecca Taylor, a parent whose child has allegedly fallen to the “predatory” tactics.

The ESRB’s loot box label is becoming decidedly clearer. The ratings board has started applying an “In-Game Purchases (Includes Random Items)” label that warns when games include loot boxes and other luck-of-the-draw items. And yes, the ESRB has reasons for not writing “loot boxes.” It wants a catch-all phrase that could include similar elements, and wants a term that non-gamers (say, parents buying games for their kids) could understand.

The badging should help buyers make “more informed decisions” rather than finding out after the fact, the ESRB said. The previous approach only listed the presence of paid items on a basic level, which could refer to more benign purchases like DLC and season passes. You still had to do separate research if you were worried about loot boxes.

To get everyone on the same page, Rocket League will convert any existing loot crates players have in their inventory to blueprints when the update goes live in December. When you launch the game, they’ll be there waiting for you to reveal what they can turn into. The one thing to note here is that you can’t trade a blueprint without first finding out what it turns into since that would go against the spirit of the new system.

Psyonix also revealed that you’ll be able to trade credits, the new premium currency you need to unlock blueprints, in certain circumstances. The main takeaway here is that you’ll be swap credits as long as only one player is offering the currency in a trade. Another important restriction is that you can’t offer credits to another player for free — you have to receive something as part of the transaction.

Decryptors, an item that allows you to open a loot crate without purchasing a key first, will be phased out as part of next month’s update. If you happen to have any decryptors in your inventory, they’ll be converted to bonus gifts, which you can open for free. Lastly, once the new in-game economy is up and running, you’ll only be able to trade in items you got for free from a post-game drop. Rocket Pass items will still be ineligible for trade-ins.

As before, Psyonix thinks the new system is fairer to players while still allowing it to monetize its game. Loot boxes have for a couple of years now been a major source of controversy since many of them don’t reveal what’s inside.

After every match, you’ll have the chance to snag a blueprint, which explains upfront what item you’ll obtain if you buy it. You can pay for a blueprint (and item) immediately, or you can hang onto it in your inventory to purchase later. As with crates, painted, certified and special edition items will be available through blueprints. Psyonix also has a new item shop on its roadmap. It’ll feature older items that appeared in crates along with new ones.

Both blueprints and the item shop will arrive in December, along with credits, which are replacing keys as the game’s premium currency. You’ll also be able to use credits to buy Rocket Pass Premium too, but they won’t be valid for the esports shop — only esports tokens will be valid there. Psyonix will automatically convert keys into credits and remaining crates into blueprints once the overhauled system goes live. Until then, one final vindicator crate will be available from Thursday, which includes a battle-car and a goal explosion.

Meanwhile, changes are afoot for Rocket League trade-ins. When the new cosmetics system is up and running, you won’t be able to trade in paid-for items from blueprints, the item shop or older ones you got from crates. You’ll still be able to trade in items from free post-game drops.

Psyonix reckons blueprints will offer more transparency about the digital goods you’re buying. A major criticism of loot boxes is that you don’t really know what goodies they contain. Some jurisdictions and regulators believe they’re a form of gambling.

Fears that the mix of gambling and gaming is fueling addiction has lead to lawmakers in the US and Europe calling for the ban of in-game loot boxes. But so far, only Belgium and the Netherlands have been successful. Belgium passed a law last year that banned video game loot boxes, which allow players to pay cash to unlock rewards. The nation’s gambling commission ordered several popular games that came with in-game revenue models, including Overwatch, Counterstrike: Global Offensive, and FIFA 18 to remove their loot boxes in Belgium. If publishers didn’t comply with the law, they could face a fine of €800,000 and up to five years in prison.

Most game developers like Blizzard, Valve and 2K have satisfied requirements by releasing a version sans loot boxes. Others are pulling the games from Belgium entirely. Last year, Square Enix pulled three mobile games from Belgium: Kingdom Hearts Union X, Dissidia Final Fantasy Opera Omnia and Mobius Final Fantasy.