PEGI Announces Plans to Slap Higher Age Ratings on Games with Loot Boxes, Daily Quests, and Paid Battle Passes Soon
The age rating system used for games in Europe outside of Germany, PEGI, has announced plans to update their criteria. Games that feature loot boxes, NFTs, or blockchain-related content, or pressurize players into returning via daily quests, will automatically be given specific age recommendations to match.
The update aims to address concerns over the impact of these features on children and young adults. PEGI's current rating system assigns age recommendations based on the game's content, but the new criteria will take into account the monetization models used in the game.
The changes are expected to affect games that use loot boxes, daily quests, and paid battle passes to encourage spending. Games that use these features will be assigned a higher age rating, making them less accessible to younger players.
The update is part of PEGI's ongoing efforts to ensure that games are rated fairly and accurately. The organization has been working with game developers and publishers to implement the new criteria and provide guidance on how to comply.
The changes are expected to take effect in the coming months, with the exact timeline to be announced by PEGI. Game developers and publishers will have time to adjust their games to comply with the new criteria before the changes take effect.
The update is seen as a positive step towards protecting children and young adults from the potential negative impacts of loot boxes and other monetization models. It remains to be seen how the changes will affect the gaming industry as a whole.