UKIE, the Association for U.K. Interactive Enter꧑tainment, has resp𝔍onded to reports of proposed legislation in the U.S. that would ban scalper bots.
Earlier today, it wa🐲s reported that a group of U.S. Democrats introduced the 'Stopping Grinch Bots Act.' Led by Representative Paul Tonko, Senator Richard Blumeꦰnthal, Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer and Senator Ben Ray Luján, the act seeks to ban bots used by scalpers (per ).
In short, scalpers utilize bots to circumvent digital queues of customers, purchasing multiple units of a sought-after console, only to sell them on at exceedingly higher prices. This is nothing new, of course, but scalpers have particularly been in the spotlight over the last 12 months, ever since the PS5, 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Xbox Series X, and 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Xbox Series S launched in November 2020.
In response to this proposed legislation, a UKIE spokesperson spoke to GamesRadar+ about the state of scalping in general: "The industry has worked hard to increase the number of consoles coming into the market and make sure they get into the hands of as many players as possible. But unprecedented demand combined to supply chain issues has, unfortunately, meant that not🦹 everyone has been able to get a hold of a console.
"For now, our top tip is to stay patient, follow trusted retailers on soc🦄ial media for stock updates and to continue to try to buy from them. Holding out to buy a console at the recommended price will 𓄧discourage the small number of scalpers, save you money, and protect your consumer rights in the long run."
We've seen a number of measures, from both inside and outside of the games industry, take aim at scalpers over the past year. After scalpers reportedly sold 澳洲幸运5开♕奖号码历史查询:no🍸rth of 60,000 PS5 and Xbox Series X consoles over November 2020, a group of U.K. politicians 澳洲幸🌠运5开奖号码历史查询:called for action against scalper bots, with legislation spon𒈔sored by 10 Members of Parliament in total.
Even retailers have taken matters into their own hands in some cases, with one retailer 澳洲幸运5🗹开奖号码历史查询:cancelli𒐪ng over 1,000 new-gen console orders placed by a scalper late last year. The situation surrounding the use of scalper bots online is far from꧒ resolved however, and and this new legislation from U.S. lawmakers is well worth keeping an eye on over the coming months.
You can head over to our 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:new games 2021 guide for a full look at all the games coming to new-gen platforms over the next year.
Hirun Cryer is a freelance reporter and writer with Gamesradar+ based out of U.K. After earning a degree in ꦅAmerican History specializing in journalism, cinema, literature, and history, he stepped into the games writing world, with a focus on shooters, indie games, and RPGs, and has since been the recipient of the MCV 30 Under 30 award for 2021. In his spare time he freelances with other outlets around the industry, practices Japanese, and enjoys contemporary manga and anime.
