World · Europe · 8 hrs ago
German games group warns EU KIDS Act could disrupt age ratings
The German Games Industry Association is warning about the draft EU KIDS Act, a proposed European Union law focused mainly on protecting children online.
The draft would ban social media for children under 13 and restrict it for those under 15, but it also includes rules for age ratings in online games.
Germany uses the USK system, while PEGI is used across most of Europe to rate games by age.
The association says new European-wide rules could conflict with those systems and lead to different age ratings for the same game in different stores.
USK and PEGI already consider features such as loot boxes and online communication, and the group wants the law to build on these systems rather than replace them.
It also says game rules should reflect risks specific to games, strengthen parental controls and avoid unnecessarily restricting children’s access to games.
The act is still in draft form, and the association is calling on the EU to protect and strengthen the existing ratings systems as it develops the rules.
Germany’s video game industry association has warned that the EU KIDS Act could undermine established age-rating systems for games.
The association says new European-wide codes of conduct could lead to the same game receiving different age ratings in different stores.
The draft act is primarily aimed at social networks but also includes provisions on age-rating codes for online games.
Game is calling for the act to build on Germany’s USK and Europe’s PEGI systems rather than create new procedures.
The association also wants games treated differently from social networks, with protections and age checks based on actual risks.
- Who
- Game, the German Games Industry Association, raised the warning.
- What
- It says the EU KIDS Act could undermine existing game age-rating systems and lead to inconsistent ratings.
- When
- The warning was reported on November 9, 2026. The act was unveiled in draft form in September.
- Where
- The proposed act concerns the European Union. Germany uses the USK system, while PEGI is used across most of Europe.
- Why
- Game says the act’s more binding codes of conduct could override existing systems and create new procedures for games.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Germany’s USK system was overhauled to account for features including loot boxes and online communication.
PEGI was amended, with games featuring loot boxes automatically rated as 16+.
The EU KIDS Act was unveiled in draft form.
GamesIndustry.biz reported Game’s warning that the act could undermine existing age-rating systems.
- Association
- Game, the German Games Industry Association
- German ratings system
- USK
- System used across most of Europe
- PEGI
- Social-media age proposal
- Ban for children under 13, with restrictions for those under 15
- Loot-box rating
- PEGI games featuring loot boxes are automatically rated 16+
What people are saying
Games are not social networks, and they need their own rules.
Children have a right to protection – and a right to play.