Leon Xiao
@leonxiao.com
Assistant Professor @ CityUHK | Loot Boxes; Video Game Law 🎮🎰 | Empirical Legal & Policy Research | Pro Screenshotter 📱📸 | leonxiao.com
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Leon Xiao
@leonxiao.com
· Mar 27
I’m joining City University of Hong Kong as an Assistant Professor. By establishing the Creative Media Policy Observatory, we will ‘scale up’ and conduct more empirical research on video game law and regulation, and also explore the policy issues relating to adjacent creative media industries. 🔬⚖️🎮👾
Please email us via [email protected] for corrections.
January 9, 2026 at 6:29 AM
Please email us via [email protected] for corrections.
GachaCon 2026 is just one month away (12–13 February)! Preliminary programme: docs.google.com/spreadsheets.... Want to bag some GachaCon merch? Register for attendance: forms.gle/Mjk9tRo9TTSW....
January 9, 2026 at 5:41 AM
GachaCon 2026 is just one month away (12–13 February)! Preliminary programme: docs.google.com/spreadsheets.... Want to bag some GachaCon merch? Register for attendance: forms.gle/Mjk9tRo9TTSW....
Christmas crackers do “guarantee” an eye roll or *ugh* with the bad joke/pun…
January 5, 2026 at 8:24 PM
Christmas crackers do “guarantee” an eye roll or *ugh* with the bad joke/pun…
For those who play after, we continue.
Thanks to @jonhicks.com at @gibiz.bsky.social for carrying on this tradition.
Thanks to @jonhicks.com at @gibiz.bsky.social for carrying on this tradition.
December 16, 2025 at 6:00 PM
For those who play after, we continue.
Thanks to @jonhicks.com at @gibiz.bsky.social for carrying on this tradition.
Thanks to @jonhicks.com at @gibiz.bsky.social for carrying on this tradition.
Exceptions include Brazil deciding to ban loot boxes from games designed for or are likely to be accessed by under-18s. 🇧🇷 We also await crucial details of forthcoming EU developments. 🇪🇺
December 16, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Exceptions include Brazil deciding to ban loot boxes from games designed for or are likely to be accessed by under-18s. 🇧🇷 We also await crucial details of forthcoming EU developments. 🇪🇺
The enforcement of pre-existing consumer law is the prevailing theme, such as the US Federal Trade Commission going after Genshin Impact 🇺🇸 and advertising complaint rulings in the UK and the Netherlands. 🇬🇧🇳🇱
December 16, 2025 at 6:00 PM
The enforcement of pre-existing consumer law is the prevailing theme, such as the US Federal Trade Commission going after Genshin Impact 🇺🇸 and advertising complaint rulings in the UK and the Netherlands. 🇬🇧🇳🇱
How are #LootBoxes regulated across the world? Here’s my new annual edition of the Loot Box State of Play via @gibiz.bsky.social: www.gamesindustry.biz/loot-box-sta.... 🌍🌏🌎
Loot Box State of Play 2025: a ban in Brazil, non-compliance in Australia, a worrying wait for UK legislation and more
Researcher Leon Y. Xiao delivers his annual rundown on lootbox legislation around the world, and how developers and publishers should respond
www.gamesindustry.biz
December 16, 2025 at 6:00 PM
How are #LootBoxes regulated across the world? Here’s my new annual edition of the Loot Box State of Play via @gibiz.bsky.social: www.gamesindustry.biz/loot-box-sta.... 🌍🌏🌎
Long shot: can you help me reach a gerontology (ageing) expert? Thinking more and more about researching the experiences of older people playing video games, which is definitely understudied. Want to avoid reinventing the wheel.
December 10, 2025 at 5:31 PM
Long shot: can you help me reach a gerontology (ageing) expert? Thinking more and more about researching the experiences of older people playing video games, which is definitely understudied. Want to avoid reinventing the wheel.
Link to the YouTube Shorts: www.youtube.com/shorts/167CN...
@metro.co.uk's video game TikTok account also made a video: www.tiktok.com/@game.centra.... But only 2k views compared to their x00,000+ or even millions of views on other videos, so maybe this type of content doesn't always work.
@metro.co.uk's video game TikTok account also made a video: www.tiktok.com/@game.centra.... But only 2k views compared to their x00,000+ or even millions of views on other videos, so maybe this type of content doesn't always work.
UK declara ilegal ocultar loot boxes tras un botón de ‘leer más’ #uk #lootboxes #videojuegos #fypシ
YouTube video by BaityLive
www.youtube.com
December 8, 2025 at 9:04 AM
Link to the YouTube Shorts: www.youtube.com/shorts/167CN...
@metro.co.uk's video game TikTok account also made a video: www.tiktok.com/@game.centra.... But only 2k views compared to their x00,000+ or even millions of views on other videos, so maybe this type of content doesn't always work.
@metro.co.uk's video game TikTok account also made a video: www.tiktok.com/@game.centra.... But only 2k views compared to their x00,000+ or even millions of views on other videos, so maybe this type of content doesn't always work.
A tale of two online posts about our impact on UK game advertising: www.asa.org.uk/rulings/hutc....
My LinkedIn post: 1k+ impressions (not bad!)
YouTube Shorts by @baitybait.bsky.social with 717k subs: 163k views & 9.5k likes!
Academia does need to think about other channels to reach the public!
My LinkedIn post: 1k+ impressions (not bad!)
YouTube Shorts by @baitybait.bsky.social with 717k subs: 163k views & 9.5k likes!
Academia does need to think about other channels to reach the public!
December 8, 2025 at 9:02 AM
A tale of two online posts about our impact on UK game advertising: www.asa.org.uk/rulings/hutc....
My LinkedIn post: 1k+ impressions (not bad!)
YouTube Shorts by @baitybait.bsky.social with 717k subs: 163k views & 9.5k likes!
Academia does need to think about other channels to reach the public!
My LinkedIn post: 1k+ impressions (not bad!)
YouTube Shorts by @baitybait.bsky.social with 717k subs: 163k views & 9.5k likes!
Academia does need to think about other channels to reach the public!
As far as I can observe from online photos, many other advertisements for the game also did not disclose the presence of in-game purchases.
Your game world might be lawless, but the real world has rules you must follow.
Your game world might be lawless, but the real world has rules you must follow.
December 2, 2025 at 8:00 AM
As far as I can observe from online photos, many other advertisements for the game also did not disclose the presence of in-game purchases.
Your game world might be lawless, but the real world has rules you must follow.
Your game world might be lawless, but the real world has rules you must follow.
I understand that this bus livery is likely a remnant of a big advertising campaign for the game from September 2025, which included a takeover of London Waterloo Station: www.ign.com/articles/bor....
Borderlands 4 Rips Through Waterloo Station - IGN
www.ign.com
December 2, 2025 at 8:00 AM
I understand that this bus livery is likely a remnant of a big advertising campaign for the game from September 2025, which included a takeover of London Waterloo Station: www.ign.com/articles/bor....
Remember: omitting the specific presence of loot boxes is prohibited, and omitting the presence of non-randomised in-game purchases is also prohibited!
Per the @capuk.bsky.social Guidance on advertising in-game purchases: www.asa.org.uk/resource/gui....
Per the @capuk.bsky.social Guidance on advertising in-game purchases: www.asa.org.uk/resource/gui....
Guidance on advertising in-game purchases
www.asa.org.uk
December 2, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Remember: omitting the specific presence of loot boxes is prohibited, and omitting the presence of non-randomised in-game purchases is also prohibited!
Per the @capuk.bsky.social Guidance on advertising in-game purchases: www.asa.org.uk/resource/gui....
Per the @capuk.bsky.social Guidance on advertising in-game purchases: www.asa.org.uk/resource/gui....
Take-Two is another member of the technical working group convened by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to establish better loot box industry self-regulation. Like many of its fellow members, it too has socially irresponsibly failed to comply with UK @adstandards.bsky.social rules.
December 2, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Take-Two is another member of the technical working group convened by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to establish better loot box industry self-regulation. Like many of its fellow members, it too has socially irresponsibly failed to comply with UK @adstandards.bsky.social rules.
Another video game tries to illegally “BREAK FREE” from advertising regulation. But we will hold them to account! 🚨⛓️ Borderlands 4, published by 2K, a subsidiary of Take-Two Interactive, contains in-game purchases, but its advertising failed to disclose this material information to consumers.
December 2, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Another video game tries to illegally “BREAK FREE” from advertising regulation. But we will hold them to account! 🚨⛓️ Borderlands 4, published by 2K, a subsidiary of Take-Two Interactive, contains in-game purchases, but its advertising failed to disclose this material information to consumers.
Manoeuvring units around locations between turns is interesting and quite a unique mechanic for a TCG.
November 16, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Manoeuvring units around locations between turns is interesting and quite a unique mechanic for a TCG.
Got a chance to try out Riftbound, the League of Legends trading card game in Simplified Chinese.
Gameplay is basically Magic: The Gathering, but mulligan/the mana system is Hearthstone: send back and redraw + you get two "lands" at the start of each turn.
Combat felt a bit like Marvel Snap…?
Gameplay is basically Magic: The Gathering, but mulligan/the mana system is Hearthstone: send back and redraw + you get two "lands" at the start of each turn.
Combat felt a bit like Marvel Snap…?
November 16, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Got a chance to try out Riftbound, the League of Legends trading card game in Simplified Chinese.
Gameplay is basically Magic: The Gathering, but mulligan/the mana system is Hearthstone: send back and redraw + you get two "lands" at the start of each turn.
Combat felt a bit like Marvel Snap…?
Gameplay is basically Magic: The Gathering, but mulligan/the mana system is Hearthstone: send back and redraw + you get two "lands" at the start of each turn.
Combat felt a bit like Marvel Snap…?
What if the problem “gambling” harms being detected amongst young people are stemming from gambling-like products and not “traditional” gambling?
Gambling prevalence surveys (academic and national) need proper definitions!
See academic discussions:
doi.org/10.1016/j.ad...
doi.org/10.1016/j.ch...
Gambling prevalence surveys (academic and national) need proper definitions!
See academic discussions:
doi.org/10.1016/j.ad...
doi.org/10.1016/j.ch...
November 14, 2025 at 8:19 AM
What if the problem “gambling” harms being detected amongst young people are stemming from gambling-like products and not “traditional” gambling?
Gambling prevalence surveys (academic and national) need proper definitions!
See academic discussions:
doi.org/10.1016/j.ad...
doi.org/10.1016/j.ch...
Gambling prevalence surveys (academic and national) need proper definitions!
See academic discussions:
doi.org/10.1016/j.ad...
doi.org/10.1016/j.ch...
Perplexing survey design choice to not explicitly ask about #LootBoxes and #SkinGambling anymore when the definition for “gambling” used in the overall survey did include them (“any activity which involves risking money (or something of value) in the hope of winning money or a prize”)… 🤨
November 14, 2025 at 8:19 AM
Perplexing survey design choice to not explicitly ask about #LootBoxes and #SkinGambling anymore when the definition for “gambling” used in the overall survey did include them (“any activity which involves risking money (or something of value) in the hope of winning money or a prize”)… 🤨
These are not being regulated by the Gambling Commission (either due to the legal definition not fitting or, far more concerningly, irresponsible non-enforcement of gambling law), but they should most certainly be included in any research to track engagement rate trends and inform stakeholders. 🤔
November 14, 2025 at 8:19 AM
These are not being regulated by the Gambling Commission (either due to the legal definition not fitting or, far more concerningly, irresponsible non-enforcement of gambling law), but they should most certainly be included in any research to track engagement rate trends and inform stakeholders. 🤔
Wow! Very disappointing to see #LootBoxes and #SkinGambling REMOVED from the Gambling Commission Young People and Gambling 2025 survey.
Other stats just published: www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/statistics-a...
Stark contrast to DCMS commissioning a skin gambling report: www.gov.uk/government/p...
Other stats just published: www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/statistics-a...
Stark contrast to DCMS commissioning a skin gambling report: www.gov.uk/government/p...
Young People and Gambling 2025: Official statistics
www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk
November 14, 2025 at 8:19 AM
Wow! Very disappointing to see #LootBoxes and #SkinGambling REMOVED from the Gambling Commission Young People and Gambling 2025 survey.
Other stats just published: www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/statistics-a...
Stark contrast to DCMS commissioning a skin gambling report: www.gov.uk/government/p...
Other stats just published: www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/statistics-a...
Stark contrast to DCMS commissioning a skin gambling report: www.gov.uk/government/p...
Kotaku suggests this change is to better compete with Roblox: kotaku.com/fortnite-loo....
Fortnite Opens The Loot Box Flood Gates In Race With Roblox
The controversial microtransactions are being called 'paid random items'
kotaku.com
November 12, 2025 at 3:43 AM
Kotaku suggests this change is to better compete with Roblox: kotaku.com/fortnite-loo....
Journalists have rightfully pushed back: one is of course, entitled to their own reasonable opinion as to what “gambling” is.
November 12, 2025 at 3:43 AM
Journalists have rightfully pushed back: one is of course, entitled to their own reasonable opinion as to what “gambling” is.
When this change was reported, Epic Games reached out to journalists demanding “corrections” by asking them to stop referring to these mechanics as “gambling”: insider-gaming.com/fortnite-gam...; www.thegamer.com/fortnite-lea....
Epic Games Refutes Fortnite Gambling Accusations, Evidence Says Otherwise
Epic Games reached out to Insider Gaming to deny the addition of gambling in Fortnite, though their own evidence says otherwise.
insider-gaming.com
November 12, 2025 at 3:43 AM
When this change was reported, Epic Games reached out to journalists demanding “corrections” by asking them to stop referring to these mechanics as “gambling”: insider-gaming.com/fortnite-gam...; www.thegamer.com/fortnite-lea....