adminThe ESRB will not follow PEGI’s upcoming changes to video game age classifications in the United States. The US ratings body says adding factors beyond a game’s content and context could make rating categories less clear for families. PEGI, meanwhile, says its revisions are intended to help parents better understand how children may experience games.
Image credit: ESRB
Why ESRB age ratings will remain focused on content
The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) assigns ratings based on a game’s content and the context in which that content appears. The organization says its research shows that parents want clear information about features such as online communication and the ability to spend real money on in-game purchases.
However, the ESRB is concerned that using features unrelated to a game’s content to determine its age category could confuse users. It currently has no plans to let factors outside a game’s content and context affect its rating assignment.
Practical tip: An age rating is only one part of a game’s guidance. Parents can also check the accompanying content descriptors and look for information about communication and spending options before a child plays.
What PEGI’s new rating criteria cover
PEGI announced broad changes to its classification system that are scheduled to take effect at the beginning of June. Under the new rules, games may receive higher age ratings for features including paid random items, limited-time or limited-quantity offers, play-by-appointment mechanics, and unrestricted communication.
The revised criteria will apply to games submitted for classification from June onward. PEGI director general Dirk Bosmans acknowledged that incorporating both content and gameplay context into an age rating can make it harder to convey every detail. He also recognized that the ESRB may reasonably take a different approach.
How PEGI plans to handle older games
The new rules will not automatically reclassify every existing game. PEGI says it cannot continually review its entire back catalogue, particularly because many games receive ongoing updates. It has tracked in-game purchases and paid random items for seven years, and plans to identify which older titles may need attention under the revised criteria.
For parents, this means a game’s existing rating may not reflect every feature added in later updates. Checking current game information and parental controls can help provide a clearer picture.
How the changes relate to Germany’s USK system
PEGI’s revision follows changes to Germany’s USK age-rating system in 2023, which were made to comply with the Youth Protection Act. PEGI says it worked closely with USK to bring the systems back into closer alignment after their rating outcomes had become less similar over time.
PEGI says its aim is to support informed decisions by giving parents useful guidance about children’s gaming experiences. A rating can help families decide whether a game is appropriate, but it cannot replace a parent’s judgment about a particular child or the family’s rules.
What the ESRB and PEGI approaches mean for families
The two organizations differ on whether features such as spending mechanics and online interaction should influence an age category. The ESRB plans to keep those categories tied to game content and context, while PEGI is adding criteria related to selected features.
For now, families should consult the rating system used in their region and review the details behind each classification. Understanding both the age rating and a game’s specific features makes ESRB age ratings and PEGI classifications more useful when choosing games for children.
