PEGI, the European video game rating system, has announced changes to its ratings for games featuring loot boxes. Starting in June, games with paid random items will receive a PEGI 16 or PEGI 18 rating.
These new rules could impact various games popular among younger players, such as EA FC.
While an Austrian court ruled that loot boxes in EA games do not constitute gambling, PEGI believes they are not suitable for children.
The updated criteria aim to enhance online safety and address modern parental concerns. PEGI worked with the German age rating authority USK to develop these changes, which were implemented in 2023 following an update to the German Youth Protection Act.
What Are The New Rules?
According to a press release by PEGI, the new rules include the following:
- Games offering time-limited or quantity-limited in-game content will be rated PEGI 12. Those with NFTs or blockchain mechanisms will be rated PEGI 18.
- If a game contains paid random items, it will receive a default rating of PEGI 16 (potentially PEGI 18).
- Games with play-by-appointment features like daily quests will be rated PEGI 7. If these features penalize players for not returning, they will be rated PEGI 12.
- Games with unrestricted communication features will receive a PEGI 18 rating.
PEGI Director Dirk Bosmans expressed confidence that these updated criteria will provide more transparent guidance to parents and players about the gaming experience.
Most European countries, including the UK, follow the PEGI rating system. Other regions have their own standards, such as ESRB in North America and CERO in Japan.
In the US, loot boxes have faced scrutiny, with New York’s Attorney General suing Valve. This may lead ESRB to revise game ratings.
Currently, ESRB labels games with loot boxes, but they can still be rated E for everyone. For instance, EA FC is rated E and PEGI 3 in Europe, but future versions may receive higher ratings due to these changes.
Loot Boxes Widely Used
Following a lawsuit against Valve over loot boxes, the company defended them, likening in-game rewards to physical collectibles like baseball or Pokémon cards.
Valve argued that these reward systems have been prevalent in both digital and physical realms for years.
Valve’s games are unlikely to be affected by the new PEGI ratings, as most are already rated PEGI 16 or 18.