The Pan-European Game Information body (PEGI) is introducing new age rating criteria, assigning a minimum PEGI 16 rating to video games featuring loot boxes. This change, effective from June, will apply across Europe, including the UK, and aims to provide clearer guidance to consumers, particularly parents, regarding the potential risks associated with these in-game features.
Loot boxes, which allow players to purchase random virtual items using real or virtual currency, have drawn increasing scrutiny for blurring the lines between gaming and gambling. Recent research highlights these concerns, prompting PEGI to update its system. Games that incorporate loot box mechanics, such as EA Sports FC, may now receive a higher age rating, potentially PEGI 18 in some instances.
The PEGI system, utilized in 38 countries, provides age ratings of 3, 7, 12, 16, and 18 to indicate a game’s suitability for different age groups. The expansion of these criteria means that games with “paid random items” will default to a PEGI 16 rating. Dirk Bosmans, director of PEGI, expressed confidence that these updates will offer more transparent advice to parents and players.
What You Need to Know
- Games featuring loot boxes will receive a minimumPEGI 16age rating across Europe starting in June.
- This update aims to address concerns that loot boxes blur the line between gaming and gambling.
- Existing games will not be retrospectively rated under the new criteria, a point of concern for child protection advocates.
‘Gambling-like Mechanics’ and UK Regulation
Despite growing concerns, the UK has not introduced specific legislation to regulate loot boxes within video games. In 2022, the UK government decided against amending the Gambling Act 2005, citing a lack of evidence for a “causative link” to harms. However, guidance from the trade body Ukie in 2023 requires game companies to prevent players under 18 from purchasing loot boxes without parental consent.
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) prohibits and removes advertisements that do not clearly disclose the presence of loot boxes in games. Dr. Ruijie Wang, who led a study on gambling risks in young people, noted that loot boxes are a well-studied example of “gambling-like mechanics in games.” She stated that recognizing loot boxes as a risk factor in age ratings is a crucial step in reflecting modern game design and alerting parents to potential harms.
Additional PEGI Rating Updates
PEGI’s updated system also introduces new ratings for other in-game features. Games with time-limited systems, such as paid battle passes, will now be rated PEGI 12. Titles incorporating non-fungible tokens (NFTs) will receive a PEGI 18 rating. For instance, Fortnite, which features various paid passes, is already rated PEGI 12.
Games with daily quests or similar “play-by-appointment” mechanisms will be rated PEGI 7. However, if these mechanisms “punish players for not returning” by causing them to lose content, the rating will increase to PEGI 12. Furthermore, games that do not offer users any way to report or block other players online will be assigned a PEGI 18 rating.
Parental Responsibility and Future Impact
Vic Hood, a freelance video games journalist, described the new ratings as “positive” but questioned their effectiveness without parental engagement. She emphasized that parents must educate themselves about these changes and assess the suitability of games and their loot box mechanics for their children. The new ratings will only apply to games released after June, leading to calls for retrospective application to existing titles to better protect children already exposed to these mechanics.
Fonte: BBC News
