FC 26 (Image courtesy of Electronic Arts (EA))
SEOUL, July 18 (Korea Bizwire) — In a direct response to South Korea’s strengthened gaming regulations, U.S. game publisher Electronic Arts (EA) has disabled microtransaction features for Korean users of its upcoming soccer title, “FC 26,” making it one of only two countries—alongside Russia—facing such restrictions.
According to industry sources on Thursday, EA has blocked sales of the “Ultimate Edition” of “FC 26″ on the Steam platform in South Korea, citing regulatory concerns. While the base version of the game remains available for Korean players, the premium edition—which includes in-game currency used to purchase randomized player card “packs”—will not be sold locally.
Notably, EA has added a disclaimer to its PlayStation store page for the game stating, “FC Points are not available for purchase in Belgium and South Korea.” Belgium was the first EU country to classify loot boxes as gambling and ban them entirely.
The move comes after South Korea implemented a revised Game Industry Promotion Act in March 2023, mandating that publishers disclose the odds of winning specific items in randomized loot boxes. Non-compliance can result in correction orders, fines of up to 20 million won, or imprisonment.
PlayStation’s ‘FC 26′ page overview
(Image from the PlayStation official website)
A representative from Korea’s Game Rating and Administration Committee said the agency is actively informing overseas game developers of the new legal requirements and attributed EA’s decision to “internal judgment based on local regulations.”
“FC 26” is the latest installment in EA’s flagship soccer series and is scheduled for global release in September. In Korea, the franchise is widely known through Nexon’s local versions—“FC Online” and “FC Mobile”—both of which comply with domestic disclosure rules.
The episode underscores how international game developers are adapting to South Korea’s expanding regulatory influence on loot-based monetization strategies.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
