Trending Now - PEGI to Enforce 16+ Rating for Loot Box Games Starting June
WHO:
Dirk Bosmans, director general of PEGI, stated, "This is going to come into effect in June of this year," referring to the new age-rating criteria.
Dirk Bosmans, director general of PEGI
Pan-European Game Information (PEGI)
USK (Unterhaltungssoftware Selbstkontrolle), Germany's age-rating board
GamesIndustry.biz, Eurogamer.net (news sources)
WHAT:
Games like EA Sports FC, which typically carry a PEGI 3 rating, are expected to be rated PEGI 16 due to the inclusion of virtual card packs in the Ultimate Team mode.
Games that allow users to disable in-game purchases by default will be able to reduce their PEGI rating to 7.
Games that include “paid random items” like loot boxes and gacha systems will be assigned a default PEGI 16 age rating, or PEGI 18 in some cases, such as social casino games.
PEGI is introducing four new categories to its age-rating criteria.
Games containing paid random items, such as loot boxes, will be rated PEGI 16.
Social casino games will be rated PEGI 18.
Games with time-limited or quantity-limited paid systems will be rated PEGI 12.
Games with in-game controls that turn off spending by default can receive a PEGI 7 rating.
Games that incentivize players to return, such as through daily quests, will be rated PEGI 7.
Games that punish players for not returning will be rated PEGI 12.
Games with unrestricted online communication will be rated PEGI 18.
The changes will come into effect in June 2026.
WHERE:
The PEGI age-rating system is used across almost all of Europe, excluding Germany.
WHEN:
The new age rating categories will apply to games submitted for classification from June 2026 onwards.
The new PEGI age-rating criteria will take effect in June 2026.
The last major change to PEGI's rating system occurred in 2019.
WHY:
The changes are part of a response to global lawmakers attempting to crack down on allegedly addictive gaming mechanisms.
The changes aim to address concerns regarding addictive design, online communication risks, and the impact of in-game purchases on children.
The updates are influenced by similar changes made by USK in Germany.
HOW:
PEGI consulted with video game companies, national trade associations, and academics to gather evidence for the changes, with meetings beginning six months prior to the announcement.
PEGI consulted with video game companies, national trade associations, and academics to gather evidence for the changes.
The new rules will apply only to games submitted for classification from June 2026 onwards.
(UPDATED March 13, 2026 07:14 UTC)
In a significant update for the gaming industry, Dirk Bosmans, the director general of PEGI, announced that new age-rating criteria will take effect in June 2026. Under these changes, games that include features like virtual card packs and paid random items will see their ratings increase, with titles like EA Sports FC shifting from PEGI 3 to PEGI 16, while those allowing users to disable in-game purchases can lower their rating to PEGI 7. This move comes as a response to global lawmakers addressing concerns over potentially addictive gaming mechanisms, following extensive consultations with video game companies and experts over the past six months.
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(UPDATED March 12, 2026 19:19 UTC)
In a significant update, the Pan-European Game Information, or PEGI, will introduce four new categories to its age-rating criteria, set to take effect in June 2026. Games featuring paid random items, like loot boxes, will now be rated PEGI 16, while social casino games will receive a PEGI 18 rating, and those with in-game controls to limit spending will be rated PEGI 7. These changes, influenced by Germany's USK board, aim to address concerns about addictive design and the impact of in-game purchases on children, following consultations with video game companies and academics.