Electronic Arts isn’t taking any chances: the company will block more than 35 million South Korean gamers from buying FC 26’s Ultimate Edition. EA is pulling the plug on the priciest version of the game after South Korea’s new anti-loot box law takes effect.

Loot boxes and random rewards have become an ever-present feature in online games over the last decade. Soccer sims were quick to embrace the trend, building entire gameplay systems around card packs and other random mechanics. But now, EA Sports FC 26—EA’s new flagship football sim—faces strict limitations in South Korea that will stop gamers from getting their hands on its top-tier Ultimate Edition. The move comes after fresh legislation forced EA into a rare and drastic decision just to stay in business there.

According to Chosun.biz, EA has already axed sales of FC 26 Ultimate Edition in South Korea, blocking access for 35 million players. This version comes with FC Points—the in-game currency used for buying randomized player card packs. The new law forces game companies to disclose the odds of earning these rewards in detail. By contrast, the game’s standard edition will remain on sale without issue.

With this, South Korea joins Belgium and Russia as the only countries to restrict or ban the Ultimate Edition. Belgium bans loot box games outright as a form of gambling, while South Korea’s new rules, adopted in March, mandate total transparency about reward probabilities. Failure to comply can mean steep fines, correction orders, or even jail time.

EA Chose to Self-Ban the Ultimate Edition

South Korea’s Game Rating and Administration Committee (GRAC) said it’s been keeping foreign publishers informed about the new requirements. GRAC notes that EA itself made the call to block the Ultimate Edition—apparently to proactively adapt before launch to the tougher new legal landscape.

EA Sports FC 26 is set to hit shelves in September as the series’ first entry post-FIFA license. In South Korea, EA teams up with Nexon to distribute spin-offs like FC Online and FC Mobile, which continue to run as normal. Nexon is already complying with the law by publicly posting drop rates for all random rewards in these titles.

Source: 3djuegos