PEGI raises age ratings to 16 for games with loot boxes

PEGI has started lifting age limits on digital software featuring paid random items, like loot boxes, to PEGI 16. Policy manager Connor Hinde says these updates will roll out this week and through the rest of October. Existing digital-only titles currently rated PEGI 3, 7, or 12 that include these items will be updated to PEGI 16. Reports say EA Sports FC, Pokémon Go, Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket, Mario Kart Tour, and Zenless Zone Zero are among the games that have already seen rating increases.

PEGI has introduced several other rating criteria. Games with time-limited or quantity-limited offers will receive a minimum PEGI 12 rating. Any mechanics that incentivize returning to play will result in a PEGI 7 minimum, while penalties for staying away push the rating to PEGI 12.

Certain features will trigger higher ratings. Games with NFTs or blockchain-related mechanisms will be rated PEGI 18. Games with online communication features that lack blocking or reporting abilities will also be rated PEGI 18. PEGI noted that games with paid random items can be rated PEGI 18 in some cases, but the organization did not specify which conditions lead to that rating.