Pan-European Game Information (PEGI), the European video game rating organization, has officially begun the process of raising the age rating of previously released titles containing paid random items (loot boxes) to 'PEGI 16'.
PEGI announced on October 6 that it is reclassifying digital-only games previously rated 'PEGI 3', 'PEGI 7', or 'PEGI 12' that include paid random items to 'PEGI 16'. In addition to the increased age rating, these games will be required to display a descriptor indicating the inclusion of 'paid random items'.
This measure is an extension of the new rating criteria introduced in June. Starting this June, PEGI began applying expanded rating standards to new releases to evaluate so-called 'interactive risks', including in-game purchases, paid random items, communication features, and systems that incentivize continuous play. Under these standards, new games containing paid random items were assigned a default PEGI 16 rating, and starting in October, this scope has been expanded to cover existing live titles.
PEGI Director General Dirk Bosmans explained, "Online games can be serviced and updated over a very long period of time. We decided on this update to prevent the consistency of age rating standards from deteriorating over time. This ensures that even as older games remain popular in the future, they accurately reflect PEGI's current age rating criteria."
Meanwhile, this reclassification applies equally to games rated through the traditional evaluation procedure (PEGI Classic) as well as online games rated via the International Age Rating Coalition (IARC) system. The rollout will take place sequentially throughout October across all digital storefronts that use the PEGI rating system. Consequently, developers and publishers of affected games must update product details on each storefront and reflect the changed ratings in future marketing materials.
As this retroactive application gets fully underway, global live-service games are being directly impacted. Indeed, 'Marvel Rivals', which was previously classified as PEGI 12, was raised to PEGI 16 on European storefronts on October 17 local time. Regarding this, Connor Hinde, Policy Manager at the Games Rating Authority (GRA), which administers PEGI in the UK, stated on LinkedIn, "We are aware that a significant volume of rating changes will occur within a relatively short timeframe," adding, "Publishers and developers with questions or concerns regarding the process can receive further guidance through the PEGI Helpdesk."
