All articles tagged with #esrb
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.
The Disney Afternoon Collection, a six-game NES compilation from Digital Eclipse, has been rated for Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 by the ESRB, suggesting a future release on newer systems. Originally released in 2017 for PC, PS4, and Xbox One, the pack includes DuckTales, DuckTales 2, Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers, Rescue Rangers 2, TaleSpin, and Darkwing Duck; no launch date is announced.
Konami is reportedly developing a new Switch game titled Enchanted Wonderland, an adventure game rated E for Everyone that involves exploring a magical world, interacting with characters, learning magic, and participating in mini-games, including space-themed activities. No official release date has been announced yet.
The upcoming game "The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom" for the Nintendo Switch, set to release on September 26, will feature Link as a playable character alongside Zelda, according to the game's ESRB rating. The game will involve Zelda using magic to summon creatures and Link using a sword and arrows, with speculation that the game may shift perspectives between the two characters throughout the story.
The upcoming Nintendo Switch game, The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, will feature both Zelda and Link as playable characters, according to an ESRB rating. This has sparked fan theories about the game's storyline, suggesting that players may start with Link before transitioning to Zelda. The game is set to launch on September 26, 2024.
The ESRB rating for The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom reveals that players will be able to control Link, using his sword and arrows to defeat enemies, alongside Zelda who uses a magic wand called the "Tri Rod" to summon creatures. The game is rated E10+ for "Fantasy Violence."
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has rejected the Entertainment Software Ratings Board's (ESRB) application for a facial recognition age verification tool, which would have been used as a form of parental consent under the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). The FTC cited concerns over privacy, protections, accuracy, and deepfakes, despite some supporters believing the technology had sufficient privacy measures. The ESRB's proposal, developed in partnership with Yoti and SuperAwesome, aimed to estimate users' ages without storing their data, but the FTC's 4-0 vote against the application means it cannot be used for now, although the regulator left open the possibility for the ESRB to re-file the application in the future.
The US Federal Trade Commission has blocked plans to introduce "privacy-protective facial age estimation" technology, which was designed to enforce the Children's Online Privacy Protection Rule (COPPA). The technology, submitted by the ESRB, Yoti, and SuperAwesome, aimed to determine a user's age without storing photographic imagery or using facial recognition algorithms. The FTC's decision to deny the application was unanimous, but without prejudice, leaving open the possibility for resubmission in the future.
On April 1, an Xbox Store page for Hollow Knight: Silksong appeared, causing a stir despite the date. Xbox marketing execs confirmed its legitimacy, but it's worth noting that the game already had store pages on Steam, PlayStation, and Switch. The new Xbox listing revealed the game's ESRB rating of E10+, indicating progress in development, although final rating details are not yet available. This reassures fans that the highly anticipated Metroidvania sequel is "still in development" after a two-year absence.
Joe Lieberman, former U.S. senator and Democratic vice presidential nominee, has passed away at 82. He was known for crusading against violence in video games in the ‘90s, leading congressional hearings that pressured the industry to implement a better rating system, resulting in the formation of the Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB). Despite his influence, he faced ridicule and criticism over the years and continued to lobby against violent video games into the 2000s.
The ESRB has rated an unannounced "Little Nightmares: Enhanced Edition" for PS5, Xbox Series, and PC, following an initial rating in South Africa. This adventure platformer game allows players to control a girl named Six as she attempts to escape a nightmarish world, featuring various dark themes and death scenes. The original "Little Nightmares" is available on multiple platforms, including PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and mobile devices.
A Nintendo of America employee's child leaked the roster information for Super Smash Bros. 3DS in 2014 after gaining access to the game footage sent to the ESRB for rating. The leaked information spread on 4Chan, prompting Nintendo to fire the employee once they discovered their involvement.
Epic Games Store will now permit blockchain games classified as "Adults Only" solely due to their use of blockchain or NFT technology, while maintaining policies against porn, gambling, and hateful content. This policy shift allows previously banned games like Gods Unchained and Striker Manager 3 to return to the store, although some stores still do not sell games with an "Adults Only" rating. Steam, for example, does not allow blockchain games.