Games which feature loot boxes will soon be given an age rating of 16 across Europe.
The Pan-European Game Information (PEGI) age ratings appear on games sold in Europe to indicate their appropriateness for children of various ages.
Loot boxes are an in-game feature that allows players to purchase random mystery items using real or virtual currency. However, recent research has discovered that they blur the line between gaming and gambling.
The changes to PEGI come as lawmakers around the world work to address concerns about potentially addictive gaming mechanics. A recent lawsuit alleges that the gaming corporation Valve uses loot boxes to promote "illegal gambling."
The changes will apply only to new games submitted for classification starting in June, or to existing games when they introduce new features related to these classifications.
The new age rating categories specify that games featuring “paid random items”, such as loot boxes and gacha systems, will receive a default PEGI 16 rating, or PEGI 18 in certain cases, including social casino games. Games that allow players to purchase in-game content, including offers that are time-limited or quantity-limited, will be assigned a PEGI 12 rating. Titles that incorporate NFTs or blockchain-related mechanisms will have their rating raised to PEGI 18.
Dirk Bosmans, director of PEGI, stated that he is "confident" the updates will provide "more useful and transparent advice" for parents and players.
Emily Tofield, chief executive of Young Gamers & Gamblers Education Trust (Ygam), believes this is a step in the right direction. However, she suggested that a PEGI 18 rating should be applied retroactively to existing titles.
Tofield stated: "Without applying the rules to current games, the policy will do little to protect the children who are already playing them."
The PEGI system operates in 38 countries and its ratings of 3, 7, 12, 16, 18 are used to indicate a game's suitability for certain age groups
