PEGI raises age rating for games with loot boxes to 16

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The change affects digital-only games with paid random items; Zenless Zone Zero has already had its age rating raised.

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PEGI has begun raising the age rating to 16 for digital-only games that offer paid random items, such as loot boxes. The change affects games already available with PEGI 3, 7 or 12 ratings. The review is expected to continue throughout October.

Connor Hinde of the Games Rating Authority, which administers PEGI in the UK, explained in a personal LinkedIn post that new games submitted since June have been assessed against expanded criteria. These include risks associated with in-game interaction. The authority has now begun applying some of those criteria to existing digital games.

Zenless Zone Zero is one example: HoYoverse’s action game has moved from PEGI 12 to PEGI 16. The EA Sports FC series, previously rated PEGI 3, is also among the games under review. Affected titles receive a PEGI 16 rating and a label identifying paid random items.

The rule changes age ratings; it does not ban loot boxes. In practice, the higher rating gives families and players a clearer warning about this type of monetisation before choosing a game. The scope of the review is limited, however: Hinde referred specifically to digital-only games.

The change follows plans PEGI announced in March to revise how it assesses loot boxes and other microtransactions, as well as features that can encourage excessive play and unmonitored online communication. Hinde advised developers and publishers with questions about the update to contact PEGI support.

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