PEGI has revised age rating criteria in October 2024 to account for the popularity of paid random items in digital games. These labels are used by parents and buyers to exclude certain content for children and so these changes are important. Specifically, PEGI now views loot boxes as a key part of age suitability.
Loot boxes trigger PEGI 16 rating for previously lower-rated digital games
The focus here is specifically on digital-only titles that have been rated lower before. If such games contain paid random items, they will now be bumped to PEGI 16 rating. This includes those that were previously PEGI 3, 7, and 12.
This change applies not only to new titles but also current games. PEGI representative Connor Hinde confirmed this.
Examples of notable titles affected by these new regulations include EA Sports FC, Pokemon Go, Mario Kart Tour, and Zenless Zone Zero. They all now have PEGI 16 – Paid random items labels. Other methods of monetization also become subject to more stringent regulations. Time or quantity limited offers now require a minimum PEGI 12 rating.
PEGI has also expanded its criteria to include new technologies and means of communication. Games with NFTs or blockchain mechanisms get automatically rated PEGI 18. Also, the games that allow unrestricted online communication without tools to block or report get the highest age rating. The intention is to help parents judge these elements via parental tools, according to Beate Våje.
Overall, there's an attempt to bring age rating more in line with modern digital gaming economies. For buyers it's possible to see which games have more aggressive monetization models through the new PEGI 16 rating. Also, games with unmoderated online interactions or blockchain are ensured to have the highest restrictions.
Source: VideoGameChronicles
Discussion
0 comments