The Pan-European Game Information age-ratings body — better known as PEGI, the European equivalent of the ESRB — is revising how games are rated in Europe.
From July 2026, four new categories will be added to PEGI’s classification options to better inform parents and players about games that include in-app purchases, paid random items, play-by-appointment features such as daily streaks, and online communities, marking a huge pivot in how games and their mechanics are classified in the UK and Europe.
Before this shake-up, PEGI chiefly rated games according to prevalence of drugs, sex, and violence, but did not explicitly rate games according to “interactive risk.”
Developing the criteria, PEGI said it worked with its internal committees of experts, as well as the German age rating authority USK, which implemented similar changes in 2023 (which is why these latest changes don’t apply to games released in Germany).
Here’s how the new ratings will work:
- Purchases of in-game content: games with time-limited or quantity-limited offers will be classified with a PEGI 12, games with NFTs or blockchain-related mechanisms will be PEGI 18.
- Paid random items: the default rating will be PEGI 16 if the game contains paid random items (and in some cases they can be a PEGI 18).
- Play-by-appointment: mechanisms that reward returning to the game (e.g. daily quests) will get a PEGI 7. If these mechanisms punish players for not returning (e.g. by losing content or reducing progress) they will become PEGI 12.
- Safe online gameplay: if games contain entirely unrestricted communication features (e.g. no blocking or reporting), they will be PEGI 18.
From here on in, publishers will be required to submit additional information to help PEGI assess the appropriate classification for their games, and PEGI expects to the first games “classified under these new criteria will be announced later in summer of this year.”
The obvious impact here is on EA’s FC series, which currently carries a 3 age rating. FC’s Ultimate Team mode famously includes loot boxes in the form of virtual card packs, and they are a significant revenue generator for EA. Following this change, the suggestion is this year’s FC 26 will have to have a PEGI 16 rating.
“PEGI and its administrators have been working with a broad group of stakeholders and experts to define the boundaries of these new criteria,” the organization said. “Helping parents make informed decisions by providing clear warnings was key in the determination process, as was the existence of other protective measures like parental tools.
“These tools are available on all video game platforms that make use of PEGI ratings, allowing parents to limit or block features like spending in games, online interaction, and the amount of playtime. Some publishers are also providing parents with similar features in individual games, improving the toolset that they can use to ensure a safe gameplay experience.”
Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, as well as a critic, columnist, and consultant with 15+ years experience working with some of the world’s biggest gaming sites and publications. She’s also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.
