Authorities across Europe are intensifying efforts to regulate loot boxes and other elements in games deemed 'interactive risk categories.' The Pan-European Game Information organization, commonly referred to as PEGI, is introducing updated guidelines that will influence age classifications depending on the inclusion of loot boxes, along with in-game transactions or mechanics potentially linked to gambling or habit-forming patterns. The specific guidelines include:
For in-game content acquisitions: titles offering deals restricted by time or volume will receive a PEGI 12 rating, while those incorporating NFTs or blockchain elements will be rated PEGI 18.
Regarding paid randomized items: such games will generally earn a PEGI 16 designation, though certain instances may warrant a PEGI 18 rating.
On play-by-appointment systems: features encouraging regular logins, like daily challenges, will result in a PEGI 7 rating. However, if these systems penalize absences—such as through forfeited items or slowed advancement—they will be elevated to PEGI 12.
For secure online interactions: games lacking any controls on communication, including options to block or report users, will be assigned a PEGI 18 rating.
These modifications will take effect for games submitted after June 2026. The organization emphasizes that the goal is to assist parents in evaluating digital risks for their kids. 'Through these revised age classification standards, PEGI seeks to alert parents to the need for thorough review of specific game elements, and to highlight how parental controls can effectively support that process,' stated Beate Våje, chair of the PEGI Council.
A range of games could face rating adjustments under the new framework, with varying degrees of change. Competitive multiplayer titles, for example, might shift from PEGI 12 to PEGI 16, whereas the latest EA Sports FC edition would jump from its existing PEGI 3 to a minimum of PEGI 16.
Regulatory challenges surrounding loot boxes date back years. In 2018, Belgium classified them as gambling and imposed a ban. Several countries have followed with limitations or outright bans on this feature, prompting some developers to withhold releases in affected regions. Blizzard, for one, withheld its free-to-play title Diablo Immortal from Belgium and the Netherlands owing to local rules associating loot boxes with gambling. In the United States, momentum against the practice has grown recently, including a lawsuit by New York's attorney general against Valve concerning loot boxes.