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European ratings board PEGI has started bumping digital video games containing paid random items directly to a PEGI 16 rating. The rollout, confirmed by Games Rating Authority policy manager Connor Hindle, applies updated criteria that target interactive monetization risks across both newly submitted titles and selected existing digital releases. [1][2]
Under the policy, games previously classified as PEGI 3, 7, or 12 are automatically upgraded if they include mechanics such as loot boxes. Electronic Arts saw its upcoming EA Sports FC 27 jump to a PEGI 16, a sharp contrast to the PEGI 3 badge carried by earlier entries like EA Sports FC 25. HoYoVerse's action title Zenless Zone Zero was similarly increased from a 12 to a 16 rating. [1][2]
The stricter approach focuses on digital products and highlights purchases like player packs, season passes, and retention mechanics to warn parents about aggressive monetization. North American regulators are taking a different path: the ESRB opted out of matching PEGI's move, rating EA Sports FC 27 as E for Everyone and cautioning that evaluating non-content features could confuse families. [1][2]
PEGI, the European video game age rating agency, has started raising the age ratings of digital games that feature loot boxes to 16. The rollout of this new, stricter approach, is expected to occur throughout October.
via Eurogamer