All articles tagged with #esrb
Kotaku reports the ESRB lists Insomniac’s Marvel’s Wolverine for PS5 with a Mature 17+ rating and notes that a handful of sequences briefly depict a character’s exposed buttocks amid violence and drug references, as the game is slated for September 15 release.
The Switch 2 remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time has been rated E10+ by the ESRB, citing Animated Blood and Fantasy Violence; unlike the 3DS remaster, it does not include 'Suggestive Themes.' Nintendo has offered few details beyond the ESRB listing, but a Switch 2 release is still expected this year.
The ESRB listing for Silent Hill: Townfall has surfaced, signaling an imminent release window as Sony's State of Play approaches. The game is rated M for Mature for blood, violence, and strong language, and is described as a first-person survival-horror experience where players explore a Scottish island town, solve puzzles, and defend against mutated creatures; no release date has been announced yet, but a reveal is expected at the State of Play or Summer Game Fest. Development is by Screen Burn for Konami, with a planned release on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
An ESRB listing for Minecraft on Switch 2 has appeared, rating it E10+ and noting in‑game purchases, which suggests a Switch 2 edition or port may be in the works. There’s no official confirmation yet; the game could also be handled via Switch 1 backward compatibility. The item arrives as Minecraft Live 2026 previews new content, but there is no confirmed Switch 2 announcement.
Sony is emailing PS4 owners urging an upgrade to PS5 to play GTA 6 on its November 19, 2026 launch, signaling development is on track and a broader marketing push may follow; the ESRB has rated GTA 6 as Mature 17+, and while the game is confirmed for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, no PC release has been announced yet.
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.