Entertainment · Gaming · 2 hrs ago
PEGI raises age ratings to 16 for selected games with loot boxes
PEGI, the European video game age-rating body, has begun raising selected games with paid loot boxes to 16.
The change affects digital-only games that were rated PEGI 3, 7 or 12 and include paid random items.
The UK Games Rating Authority, which administers PEGI in the UK, is applying the updated criteria to existing games.
The new label is PEGI 16 – Paid random items, and updates are expected to continue through October.
The EA Sports FC series and Zenless Zone Zero are among the games whose ratings have increased.
The change follows PEGI's earlier plans to address loot boxes and other risks in modern games.
The higher rating may help parents judge whether a game's spending features are suitable, but parents still need to monitor what children play.
Publishers and developers with questions can contact the PEGI Helpdesk.
PEGI has begun raising the age ratings of selected existing digital-only games with paid random items, such as loot boxes, to 16.
The change affects games previously rated PEGI 3, 7 or 12 and labels the new rating PEGI 16 - Paid random items.
The Games Rating Authority, which administers PEGI in the UK, said the updated criteria began being applied to selected games last week.
The rollout is expected to continue through October.
Examples include the EA Sports FC series and Zenless Zone Zero.
- Who
- PEGI and the UK Games Rating Authority are applying the updated ratings criteria.
- What
- Selected digital-only games with paid random items are being moved to PEGI 16.
- When
- The process began in October 2026 and is expected to continue through the month.
- Where
- The ratings apply to digital-only games rated under PEGI.
- Why
- PEGI updated its criteria to address interactive risks, including paid random items such as loot boxes.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
PEGI announced changes to its criteria for games with loot boxes and similar features.
Newly submitted games began being assessed against an expanded set of PEGI criteria, including criteria relating to interactive risks.
The Games Rating Authority began applying the updated criteria to selected existing digital games.
The new ratings are expected to roll out progressively.
- Affected ratings
- PEGI 3, 7 or 12
- New rating
- PEGI 16 - Paid random items
- Examples
- EA Sports FC series; Zenless Zone Zero
- Rollout
- Through October 2026
- Administration in the UK
- Games Rating Authority
3 sources
Games with loot boxes and other "paid random items" re-rated PEGI 16 as new rules come into force, hopefully cutting down on kids gambling somewhat
European age-ratings body PEGI begins raising age-limit of loot box games, like EA Sports FC, to 16
PEGI begins moving existing digital-only games with loot boxes up to a 16 rating
What people are saying
Existing digital-only games that are currently rated PEGI 3, 7 or 12 and feature Paid random items, such as loot boxes, will have their age rating updated to PEGI 16 – Paid random items.
could be confusing