Nabil Luqman

0f9d2dd4f71434084e2b6094de1865e23abb37bb9f28ca51feeabee679ec9be2

Social

gaming

esports

policy

tech

child safety

gacha

public consultation

content forum

For Malaysian gamers, parents and the wider gaming industry, some changes could be coming to how online games handle loot boxes, gacha mechanics, in-game purchases and child safety.
The Communications and Multimedia Content Forum of Malaysia (CMCF) has launched a 45-day nationwide public consultation on a proposed Gaming Sub-Code, which aims to establish clearer standards for game developers, publishers, distributors, platforms and other gaming service providers whose products are accessible in Malaysia.
The consultation is open until 24 October 2026, with the public invited to review the draft and provide feedback before the proposed standards are finalised.
What Is The Proposed Gaming Sub-Code?
<img src="https://r2.myc.my/075afeb129ca34f3be9bd701049cb20e991346e447796dba68796ffd8645135b" />
The proposed Gaming Sub-Code is intended to provide clearer expectations for the rapidly evolving gaming sector, particularly as modern games increasingly combine entertainment, social interaction and digital spending in one environment.
The draft covers several areas, including:
<ul>
<li>Age classification and age assurance</li>
<li>Parental controls and safety features</li>
<li>In-game purchases and virtual currencies</li>
<li>Loot boxes and gacha mechanics</li>
<li>User-generated content</li>
<li>Reporting and moderation</li>
<li>Bullying and harassment</li>
<li>Safeguards for younger esports participants</li>
</ul>
CMCF said the need for clearer standards comes from the growing range of activities taking place inside games, where a child can potentially spend real money, interact with strangers and compete with players from around the world without ever leaving the game.
Loot Boxes And Gacha Face Greater Scrutiny
<img src="https://r2.myc.my/7f45ba462abc9396b9d3edec032550ad865dc52058049e405a04a4374ab5df24" />
One of the biggest areas covered by the proposal is in-game spending, including virtual currencies, loot boxes and gacha systems.
These mechanics can require players to exchange real money for virtual currency before using it to purchase items or open randomised rewards. Depending on the game, players may receive characters, weapons, skins, upgrades or other virtual items.
The proposed standards would look at how these systems are presented to users, including whether the probabilities behind loot boxes and gacha draws are made clearer.
This is particularly relevant for younger players, who may understand how to play a game without necessarily understanding how its spending systems work or how quickly small purchases can add up.
<img src="https://r2.myc.my/ac99e59c667ff19fb569c1f034a4b60a72447529de95a18775547855c698a182" />
Esports educator and industry practitioner Andrew Cheong, also known as <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SirCloudMY/">Sir Cloud</a>, said young gamers may understand games better than their parents but still lack a full understanding of the spending mechanics involved.
Clearer information around virtual currencies and randomised rewards could therefore help both players and parents make more informed decisions.
Stronger Protection For Children And Young Players
<img src="https://r2.myc.my/70bb3f2544b8a15ca50b380ea3b2dcb7d05f9efe4a5d6311f4d5d8bef8aa944e" />
Child safety is another major focus of the proposed Gaming Sub-Code.
The draft considers how a player's age could affect their gaming experience, as well as whether parental controls and other safety tools are sufficiently accessible and easy to use.
It also covers online interactions, including cyberbullying, harassment and user-generated content, alongside clearer approaches to reporting and moderation.
The proposal extends beyond casual gaming, with safeguards also being considered for younger players taking part in Malaysia's rapidly growing esports scene.
Ahmed Faris Amir, CEO of Impact Integrated, said introducing clearer safeguards while the sector is still developing could help prevent poor practices from becoming established.
Major Gaming Companies Are Involved
<img src="https://r2.myc.my/f3735cd3311e77058f34b0fa713ae89fddd2dcfc96e256e0a5ceaf371af34dd0" />
The proposed standards were developed with input from a working group made up of gaming companies, technology firms, esports representatives, academics, civil society organisations and child-safety advocates.
Participants included representatives connected to major gaming ecosystems such as Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, PUBG Mobile, Honor of Kings, Roblox, Xbox, PlayStation, Google Play Store and Minecraft, alongside Malaysian developers and other industry stakeholders.
Child-safety organisations, including the Office of the Children's Commissioner, SUHAKAM and Protect and Save the Children, were also involved.
CMCF chairman Datuk Rafiq Razali said the involvement of the wider industry was important because effective standards need to reflect how people actually play, spend and interact within games.
Moonton Games representative Jeffery Chan similarly said player safety measures work best when they take into account how gaming communities actually use and engage with their platforms.
Why Is Malaysia Looking At Gaming Rules Now?
<img src="https://r2.myc.my/57f3c8c529ad40d8b8010b87862ef1ed7b764255d082154ef4d4b5c39fc20590" />
Gaming has changed significantly from the days when players simply bought a game and played it offline.
Today, many games operate as ongoing online platforms where entertainment, social interaction, virtual currencies, subscriptions, competitive play and digital purchases all exist within the same ecosystem. That has created new challenges for parents and younger players, particularly when games include mechanics designed to encourage continued engagement or spending.
CMCF said the proposed Gaming Sub-Code is intended to keep safeguards in line with these developments while recognising that the gaming industry includes a wide variety of games, services and business models.
The Sub-Code is being developed under CMCF's self-regulatory framework and would operate alongside the existing Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Content Code and other applicable laws and regulatory requirements.
Malaysians Can Still Have Their Say
The proposed Gaming Sub-Code has not been finalised, meaning the current consultation is an opportunity for gamers, parents and other stakeholders to influence the final framework.
CMCF is inviting gamers, parents, publishers, consumer groups, civil society organisations and members of the public to review the draft and submit their feedback before 24 October 2026.
Organisations and interested parties can also request dedicated town hall sessions with CMCF for a more detailed walkthrough of the proposal.
Following the 45-day consultation, CMCF will review and consolidate the feedback received before deciding on the final version of the Gaming Sub-Code.
For Malaysian gamers, the biggest takeaway is that loot boxes, gacha systems, in-game spending and child safety could face clearer standards in the future. Exactly what those rules will look like, however, will depend on the feedback received during the current public consultation.
&nbsp;
*Sources: Visual and Reference Credits to Social Media &amp; various cross-references for context.
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Malaysia is proposing new gaming guidelines covering loot boxes, gacha mechanics, in-game spending and child safety.

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Malaysia Proposes New Gaming Rules Covering Loot Boxes, Gacha And Child Safety

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Malaysia Proposes New Gaming Rules Covering Loot Boxes, Gacha And Child Safety

Malaysia is proposing new gaming guidelines covering loot boxes, gacha mechanics, in-game spending and child safety.

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