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Best-in-class minor protection and parental guidance
PEGI (Pan-European Game Information) was founded in 2003, at the request of the European Commission. PEGI is a co-regulatory minor protection system for video games
What is PEGI?
PEGI has a robust and enforceable Code of Conduct. All the signatories who wants to receive a PEGI rating are required to sign and respect it
Provide parents with objective, intelligible and reliable information regarding the suitability of a game’s content
Ensure that the online gameplay environment is free from unsuitable content and conduct
Allow players to report any unwanted content or conduct and ensure proper consumer redress
Age Categories
Select one to learn more!
These age ratings provide guidance to players and parents, to help them decide whether to buy a particular product for a child
Starting in June 2026, PEGI will be classifying video games with a broader set of criteria, which will include both content and functionality, such as:
- 𝐨𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐢𝐧–𝐠𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭
- 𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐦 𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐬
- 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬
- f𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠
So what does this look like?
𝐨𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 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 games can be rated 𝑷𝑬𝑮𝑰 18).
𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲–𝐛𝐲–𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭:
- mechanisms that punish players for not returning to the game (e.g. by losing content or reducing progress) will be 𝑷𝑬𝑮𝑰 12,
- while mechanisms that simply reward engagement with the game (e.g. daily quests) will get a 𝑷𝑬𝑮𝑰 7.
𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐠𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲:
- if games contain unrestricted communication features (e.g. no reporting or blocking features), they will be rated 𝑷𝑬𝑮𝑰 18.
PEGI’s objective is to provide clearer guidance for parents and players on the overall gameplay experience – demonstrating the fast and flexible nature of the age-rating system to adapt to the evolving digital environment.
Content Descriptors
Select one to learn more!
The PEGI administrators, NICAM in The Netherlands and Games Rating Authority (GRA), are the independent bodies that are responsible for the age rating of video games
How games ARE rated
The system aims to protect minors and to build trust with consumers by ensuring that reliable information about video game content is provided in a responsible manner
40K
PEGI has classified 40,000 video games, counting more than 2600 companies as signatories, including all the major publishers
Research in key European markets shows that 80% of parents with children that play video games are aware of the PEGI age labels
PEGI is enforceable
PEGI has an enforceable Code of Conduct. Each publisher that joins PEGI has to sign this code by which it is committed to provide parents with objective, intelligible and reliable information regarding the suitability of a game’s content
PEGI’s Code of Conduct also extends to purchases of optional in-game options and setting standards for safe online gameplay
PEGI keeps up with the evolving digital landscape
In 2023, PEGI updated its Code of Conduct to include In-game Monetisation and a minor update to PEGI Online System, which combines a set of provisions to ensure safe online gameplay for minors
The PEGI Council
Some European countries even have PEGI incorporated into their legislation
From self-regulation to co-regulation:
Over the years, more European countries have officially adopted or approved the PEGI rating system as the content classification standard for minor protection in video games
PEGI is always adapting to our evolving lifestyles. The PEGI App, allows players and parents to access its database on the go!
In 2013, PEGI co-founded the International Age Rating coalition (IARC)…
…a global cooperation of age rating boards to provide the fast-moving mobile and digital markets with a scalable solution to implement familiar age rating systems
advice for parents
What are parental
control tools and what
do they entail?
Parental control tools help players and parents manage their child’s play time, the games they can access and play, whether they can communicate with other players or not, and limit or disable digital purchases
Age rating
which games they can play based on PEGI age rating and descriptors
Time limit
Agree on playtime limits, allowing for better playtime management
Online Spending
Discuss with their children whether money can be spent and how much when purchasing games and other downloadable content
Online Interaction
Agree on communications in games: friends only, friends of friends, anyone or no one
The video games industry is committed to empowering parents and ensure they have the support and confidence they need to manage their children’s gameplay
