All articles tagged with #age rating
PEGI updates guidelines to account for dark patterns and loot boxes, while ESRB resists using non-content criteria for ratings, signaling a global shift as regulators tighten controls on monetization in live-service games; Mario Kart Tour has already been rated 18+ in Brazil under the new scrutiny.
The ESRB says it will not adopt PEGI's newly announced age-rating changes in the United States, arguing that adding non-content factors to ratings could confuse parents. ESRB will continue to base ratings on game content and context, with upfront notices for features like online communication and in-game purchases, and no plans to factor non-content elements into ratings. PEGI, by contrast, is introducing broader changes from June—raising ratings for paid random items, time- or quantity-limited offers, and unrestricted online chat—with legacy titles potentially reviewed later. The discussion touches on alignment with USK and emphasizes informing parents while navigating regulatory pressures.
ESRB says it won’t follow PEGI’s Europe-wide rating overhaul, arguing that including money-related features in ratings would confuse parents; PEGI will reclassify live-service games and some legacy titles starting June, with examples like EA Sports FC 27 potentially moving from PEGI 3 to 16 and Pokémon Pokopia from 3 to 7.
PEGI will assign a default PEGI 16 rating to games that include paid random items (loot boxes) across Europe, including the UK, starting from June, with some titles potentially rising to 18. Other changes tier time-limited systems (paid battle passes) to PEGI 12, NFTs to PEGI 18, and “play-by-appointment” mechanics like daily quests to PEGI 7 (rising to 12 if content is punitive). Games lacking player reporting or blocking will be rated PEGI 18. The policy applies to new releases from June and won’t retroactively change existing titles. The UK has not changed the Gambling Act, though guidance from industry groups advocates parental controls; experts say the impact depends on parents heeding the ratings.
From June, PEGI will rate games that include paid random items (loot boxes) at PEGI 16, with related rules covering in-game purchases, time- or quantity-limited offers, online communication, and incentives to revisit (such as daily quests). NFTs-linked purchases can be rated 18; if spending controls are off by default, a game could be rated 7 for in‑game purchases. The changes aim to reflect online risks and parental controls, align PEGI with Germany’s USK, and may shift ratings for upcoming titles, following industry consultation and regulatory trends.
Speculation about the release of Hollow Knight: Silksong is growing as a South Korean age rating for the game, registered in February, has surfaced, fueling online chatter. With the game already listed on various platforms and anticipation high, fans are eagerly awaiting new details and a release date, possibly expecting announcements at upcoming gaming showcases.
The popular game Balatro has been removed from several digital storefronts due to a sudden change in its age rating from 3+ to 18+, attributed to a mistaken belief that the game contains prominent gambling imagery. The publisher, Playstack, asserts that the game does not feature gambling mechanics and had previously addressed concerns about potential gambling imagery with ratings boards, who assured them that it would not be an issue. Balatro remains available on PC platforms despite its removal from some digital stores.
Playstack Games defends its poker roguelike game Balatro after it disappears from certain stores, attributing the removal to a sudden change in its age rating from 3+ to 18+ due to concerns about gambling imagery. The publisher insists that the game does not encourage gambling and is working to resolve the issue, while the developer, LocalThunk, also asserts that the game does not contain gambling. Balatro's availability on different platforms remains uncertain, but Playstack is confident it will return to PC storefronts and possibly with a temporary 18+ rating.
Playstack's roguelike deckbuilder game, Balatro, has been removed from European Nintendo eShops after its age rating was changed from 3+ to 18+ by PEGI due to concerns about gambling imagery, despite the publisher's assurance that the game does not contain gambling themes. The game remains available on the US Switch eShop with a 10+ ESRB rating. Playstack is working to resolve the issue and get the game back on sale as soon as possible.
The British Board of Film Classification has raised the age rating of the classic film "Mary Poppins" to PG due to the use of the discriminatory term "hottentots" twice, which is now considered offensive. The term is used in the film to describe the soot-covered faces of chimney sweeps and exceeds the guidelines for U films. In the U.S., the film's rating remains unchanged at G, with no notation about discriminatory language.
The U.K. has increased the age rating for the 1964 film "Mary Poppins" from U to PG due to the use of discriminatory language, specifically the term "hottentots." The British Board of Film Classification cited concerns about exposing children to distressing language and behavior, leading to the decision. The film's historical context was noted, but the use of the term was deemed to exceed acceptable language guidelines for a U rating.
The classic film Mary Poppins has had its age rating raised from U to PG by British film censors due to its use of "discriminatory language," specifically the term "hottentots" used in reference to chimney-sweeps. The British Board of Film Classification cited the use of this term as exceeding their guidelines for U films, leading to the reclassification. The decision was based on concerns about exposing children to distressing language and behavior. The 1964 film, set in 1910 London and starring Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke, has been reclassified ahead of a theatrical re-release.
The age rating for the 1964 film "Mary Poppins" has been increased from U to PG in the U.K. due to the use of discriminatory language, specifically the term "hottentots." The British Board of Film Classification stated that the use of this term in the film exceeds their guidelines for acceptable language at a U rating. The decision was made in consideration of potential distress to children and concerns about the repetition of offensive language.
The upcoming PS5 exclusive game Stellar Blade, developed by Korean studio Shift Up and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment, has reportedly received an adults-only age rating in Korea due to nudity and violence, particularly involving the protagonist Eve. The game, heavily inspired by Nier Automata and Bayonetta, is set for release on April 26 and is expected to receive similar ratings in the West.
Fortnite players are upset with the new age rating restrictions on certain skins, which prevent them from being used on creative islands with a lower age rating. About 7% of Fortnite skins are affected by this change. Developer Epic Games has responded, stating that they will work over the next year to make most of these skins compatible with all ratings by auto-adjusting their appearance based on the selected island. Players are unhappy as they have paid money for these skins and can no longer use them as desired in the game.