The Dutch weren't kidding when they said they'll prosecute makers of games that contain loot boxes and Valve seems to be the first in line, resulting in the developer suspending CS:GO and Dota 2 marketplace trading until further notice.
Dutch CS:GO and Dota 2 players who logged into their respective games were met with Valve's message, dated 19 June 2018, where the company explained in detail what is going on. You may recall that the Dutch Gaming Authority (Kansspelautoriteit) had contacted several developers, Valve included, , requesting that they remove loot boxes or else.
Valve's message says that the company has hired Dutch legal counsel, so as to familiarise themselves with Dutch legislatives and the Gaming Authority's study of loot boxes. The company argues that even though they still don't "understand or agree" with the legal ruling, they had no other solution than to suspend Steam's marketplace transfers for CS:GO and Dota 2 for the time being.
Our lord and saviour GabeN's company pointed out that these legal conclusions lead to a threat, whereby failing to implement a solution by June 20 will result in prosecution. Unfortunately, the response wasn't clear on how to go about the task.
Instead, they contained a simple, yet menacing statement saying "Loot boxes contravene the law if the in-game goods are transferable. Loot boxes do not contravene the law if the in-game goods are not transferable." Of course, this is far from a proper conclusion, since Valve intends to work with the Gaming Authority so they "may refine their legal demands and we can find a solution that is less inconvenient."
Valve
Having said that, we're unsure whether EA's FIFA 18 and Rocket League had to do the same, seeing as how the Dutch Gaming Authority's ruling involved them as well. With neighbouring Belgium doing something similar, although with threats of , it seems like the Old Lady will be the first to do away with loot boxes. And no, I'm not talking about Juventus either.
