PEGI becomes UK standard for games

By Matt Martin Published 16 June, 2009

Ratings system to be backed by law.

The PEGI ratings system is to become the sole standard form of classification for videogames in the UK, the Government has announced.

The Video Standards Council will oversee the system independent of the games industry, and will implement the PEGI system for all titles released in the region.

Selling a videogame rated 12 or over to a minor will now be illegal.

"Protecting children and giving parents a clear and robust new system has always been our starting point. The new system of classification follows the essential criteria set out by Professor Tanya Byron, who recommended a trustworthy, uniform and clear set of symbols that is flexible and future proof," commented Creative Industries Minister Siôn Simon.

"We will now work with PEGI and the VSC to agree exactly what the new symbols will look like and how they will work in the UK market, to ensure they provide the clarity and safeguards that are needed."

The BBFC will no longer be involved in the classification of games, but will remain in place for linear content such as DVD and Blu-ray releases.

"The UK already has a robust system of classification for films and DVDs run by the BBFC. The new system of games classification will match those high standards as this important market continues to evolve," added Simon.

Lord Carter addressed the House of Commons this afternoon, revealing that - as part of the Digital Britain review - the videogames industry in the UK is set to receive a new age ratings system, "building on" the PEGI system.

"We will implement a new, more robust system of content classification for the videogames industry, building on PEGI system with a strong UK-based statutory layer of regulation, ensuring the protection of children now, and in the future," he said in his introductory statement.

More to follow.

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Comments (69) Latest comment 3 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • patch #1 3 years ago

    Wohoo!!!! Yeah!!! In your face BBFC!!!

    Sorry, just felt someone should comment.

  • infoxicated #2 3 years ago

    Can't wait to see what wacky symbols they come up with for parents to be ignorant of, this time! :o)

  • ziggymon_g #3 3 years ago


    this is worrying at the fact that while working at various retailers, hardly any parents even noticed the PEGI ratings system. To get the public on track with knowing the PEGI system after the BBFC has been in place for so long will be a difficult effort.

  • Hexagon #4 3 years ago

    This is brilliant news! I literally laughed out loud in joy. Never again will I have to see those hideous BBFC emblems on my precious games again!

  • DFawkes #5 3 years ago

    Nice, I prefer the PEGI system. Indeed, the very few times I've seen parents pay attention to ratings, it's those ones they look at. Though as far as I understand it, he PEGI system is more about self-certification, so a more developed version of that would be ideal.

    It gives a more specific breakdown of the content at least, though a couple of the symbols were a bit obscure. I'm curiosu to see how this develops.

  • the_dudefather #6 3 years ago

    I hope they incorporate the 'sad onion' logos

    http://ww w.equitoy.com/images/0-3symbol.gif

  • Buztafen #7 3 years ago

    "Selling a videogame rated 12 or over to a minor will now be illegal."

    Hang on.....it wasnt illegal before?

  • Triggerhappytel #8 3 years ago

    They're going to need to make this really clear to parents and the naive, because no-one here really notices the PEGI ratings system - they look for the red of BBFC 15 or 18, and if they're not there, no-one takes any notice.

    I can see difficulty in adapting to this for a good year or two.

    "Selling a videogame rated 12 or over to a minor will now be illegal."

    But isn't a minor someone under 18?!
    Edited by 1 at 16/06/09 @ 16:08

  • teabagger #9 3 years ago

    So, what are they going to do about dumb-ass parents that buy 18 rated games for little Jonny and then express outrage at the content.

  • Nova5lag #10 3 years ago

    Good news. :)

  • Ryuken #11 3 years ago

    Neat.

  • BigJonno #12 3 years ago

    "Selling a videogame rated 12 or over to a minor will now be illegal."

    "Hang on.....it wasnt illegal before?"

    PEGI wasn't legally enforceable and I believe you only got BBFC ratings on 15 and 18 games.
    Edited by 2 at 16/06/09 @ 16:34

  • Britesparc Verified Creative, ITV #13 3 years ago

    Whilst I agree that parents recognise BBFC logos but not PEGI ones, I guess it's best that PEGI - the industry body - got the nod, as they are best placed to respond to changes in the industry, and reflect the content more accurately.

    It's good that they're not legally enforcable, too; although, on the downside, I make a little entertainment news package at work, aimed at kids, and I've often included 12+ games in the past, as under 12s (our target audience) could still buy them. I suppose now either my guidelines or the games I feature will have to change! Still, it's probably for the best.

  • Whizzo #14 3 years ago

    PEGI wasn't legally enforceable and I believe you only BBFC ratings on 15 and 18 games.

    There are plenty of BBFC 12 rated games, Tomb Raider Underworld is a recent example.

  • el_pollo_diablo #15 3 years ago

    Am I the only person that thinks the BBFC PG/12/15/18 rating system is far clearer and therefore better than the PEGI system?

    edit: had I bothered reading more of the comments I can see that I'm not the only one. Phew, eh?
    Edited by 1 at 16/06/09 @ 16:33

  • GundamJehutyKai #16 3 years ago

    I fail to see how this is going to make any impact on the sale of inappropriate games to minors. The problem isn't retailers selling games to minors, it's dumb parents buying said games specifically for the minors!!!

    If they can't take the big ass Rated 18 symbol on the game box as a hint, they sure as hell won't even look at the PEGI symbols!!

    Well, I guess they just want to *look* like they're trying to do something

  • X201 #17 3 years ago

    A stupid decision.

  • kinky_mong #18 3 years ago

    "The new system of classification follows the essential criteria set out by Professor Tanya Byron, who recommended a trustworthy, uniform and clear set of symbols that is flexible and future proof"

    And in the same report she states that most parents don't recognise the PEGI classifcation, but the BBFC system is instantly recognisable. So which one do they go for?

    [/facepalm]

  • BigJonno #19 3 years ago

    They must have changed the 15/18 only thing then. It's irrelevant now, I guess. :)

    At the end of the day, this will be a nice simplification. There's only going to be one set of age ratings on the box and no potentially confusing 15+ and 16+ on the same game.

  • Hexagon #20 3 years ago

    It's pretty ridiculous that parents in the UK didn't understand the PEGI emblems to begin with. The rest of the EU, except Germany, seemingly has no problem. Furthermore, what the hell is up with parents being able to understand a red emblem with an 18 on it but not a black and white emblem with an 18+ rating present on the box. Stuff like that has led to articles such as this one.

  • Garulon #21 3 years ago

    So we're going to have bunches of BBFC censors - er, "Classifiers", their brains twisted to INHUMAN SAVAGERY by the thousands of hours of lowbrow videogame swearing, roaming the streets? I'm scared.

  • Dead_Man_Typing #22 3 years ago

    I've always prefered the BBFC.

    From my experience, customers who look at the PEGI rating think that it's a recommended age for skill and not for content, because it starts at 3+. When they see the BBFC 18, they know exactly what it means, and if the parents choose to ignore it then they are taking that responsibility.

    Having the same system for games and movies makes a lot of sense, moving to the crazy PEGI symbol system is a huge step backwards, in my opinion. I am also aware of several instances where PEGI has given games entirely wrong ratings that contradict their previous works.

    XIII being rated 12+ is the most blatant example of a PEGI screw up I'm aware of. It's a pretty violent game with blood and bad language, but it looks like a cartoon so it must be okay for kids to play. I don't trust PEGI, I do trust the BBFC.

  • DaM #23 3 years ago

    Dr Byron's report was obviously flawed. They should get Dr Alice Roberts to do another report. She's the world's greatest anthropologist ever, so ideally suited. I can volunteer if she needs a test subject to experiment on.

    Seriously, big numbers slapped on the front of the box - you can't make it any cleared!

  • Hexagon #24 3 years ago

    The UK made the right choice. Only Germany has to follow now. Sadly, the ignorance of German politicians is overwhelming and the concept is therefore unlikely to manifest itself.

  • riz23 #25 3 years ago

    PEGI is self-regulation as opposed to independent regulation like the BBFC. This is good for the publishers but perhaps not what Parents really want.

  • Hexagon #26 3 years ago

    @ Dead_Man_Typing

    Like I was saying, people who cannot successfully comprehend what the PEGI age ratings mean should read this article and ponder whether they are mentally incompetent.

  • AphoticCosmos #27 3 years ago

    They need to redesign the stupid monochrome PEGI symbols, they really don't stand out at all. Other than that I agree that the more specific ratings of PEGI are better for games, but seriously - drop the current logos and create new, colour-coded ones - bright red for 18+ and greens and blues for 3+, 7+ etc.
    Edited by 2 at 16/06/09 @ 17:18

  • stevetuck #28 3 years ago

    Im fairly sure i have seen 10yo's buying games like GTA/Manhunt so it really makes no difference does it

  • Nostrus #29 3 years ago

    So, what form of ID proves a child is 12+?

  • autogunner #30 3 years ago

    its the best possible system we can hope for, would you prefer the government to brand parents buying games for their preteens illegal? This way it is at least inforcable by law AND gives a certain amout of free will for the parent to make their own decision.

  • IneptPercy #31 3 years ago

    I have to disagree with it will never be seen as a true rating.

    Yes we all know what the BBFC ones mean because they have been around for a long time, but ti won't take long for people to get to know the PEGI ratings, before long people will forget how it use to be. It was an 18 before and now its an 18+ if people can't make the link then they have bigger issues than what game to play.

  • RexRunti #32 3 years ago

    So Mass Effect goes from a 12 (under BBFC) to 18 (under PEGI). Woo hoo! Sounds like the government bowing to the bullshit claims of publishers. Would be fine if thoughts on age ratings were consistant across Europe but they are clearly not.

  • gohda #33 3 years ago

    35th1!

  • asphaltcowboy #34 3 years ago

    PEGI? Seriously? Damn... should have kept the BBFC on the job!

  • Hexagon #35 3 years ago

    @ asphaltcowboy

    Not with those hideous rating emblems!

  • reelbigkris #36 3 years ago

    PEGI ratings have been supported by the mainstream retail chains (gamestation/game) for a while. PEGI ratings can have the ability to mess up the system. for example, the 12+ PEGI and BBFC rating becomes a particular problem as the only real form of I.D they can carry is a passport. Once you begin to make the 7+ PEGI ratings obey a legal requirement, it becomes a major problem.

    From the view of a staff member, i do not want to sell a 7+ game to any kid unless they look about ten years old to protect my back! That is how its going to be and i am going to get more abusive parents demanding me to answer why i can not sell their child a game that they are apparently old enough to have. The rating systems were fine as they are, the only plus i can gather from the PEGI system is that there will be more information on the actual content which can help parents understand what they are buying. I apologize for the rant...
    Edited by 1 at 16/06/09 @ 18:31

  • smelly #37 3 years ago

    YAY! another company to pay money to before you can release your game....

  • RobotRocker #38 3 years ago

    Seems a bit strange since the BBFC were expanding their own section and seemed to know what they were doing technology wise. Depends on PEGI too since even with self regulation.These industries can become very self serving and carry agendas like the MPAA in the US and the BBFC, while also self regulated, had to answer to the government a lot as well. Since PEGI is Pan-European, will we be subjected to agendas that other countries influence like religious and sexual agendas?

    Not convinced at all really. The BBFC were doing a decent job and PEGI sounds too shaddy and too politicised by the industry. Time will tell though

  • HermitArcader #39 3 years ago

    Post deleted at 09:17:39 22-12-2011

  • callum9999 #40 3 years ago

    How on earth can people not understand the PEGI system? The big number in a box = minimum age, the picture of needles = drugs, the picture of a punch = violence. How could that confuse anyone - I didn't even need to look them up, it goes without saying!

  • Hexagon #41 3 years ago

    @ 20charactersmax

    They look a lot better than I expected them to look. I like the cleanliness and uniformity that they have. Thanks for the link!

  • Dan234 #42 3 years ago

    How on earth can people not understand the PEGI system? The big number in a box = minimum age, the picture of needles = drugs, the picture of a punch = violence. How could that confuse anyone - I didn't even need to look them up, it goes without saying!

    Dr. Julius Hibbert: Homer, I'm afraid you'll have to undergo a coronary bypass operation.
    Homer Simpson: Say it in English, Doc!
    Dr. Julius Hibbert: You're going to need open-heart surgery.
    Homer Simpson: Spare me your medical mumbo jumbo!
    Dr. Julius Hibbert: We're going to cut you open and tinker with your ticker.
    Homer Simpson: Could you dumb it down a shade?

  • Hexagon #43 3 years ago

    @ callum9999

    I ask myself that very same question every time the subject comes up. Still, people aren't afraid to use this argument against utilising the PEGI as industry standard. This article depicts the absurdity of it all quite well.

  • Razorus #44 3 years ago

    As long as their infernal logos don't take up too much space on the game covers, I'm down with it.
    Though I love buying games with the 18 certificate. Makes me feel like a real grown up boy!

  • Spectral #45 3 years ago

    I'm all for this. People will just have to learn what the new symbols mean, it's hardly rocket science. Putting an end to the blatant bias the BBFC had when rating games can only be a good thing too.
    Edited by 1 at 16/06/09 @ 20:39

  • ObiChrisKenobi #46 3 years ago

    GAME have been treating PEGI ratings as law for the last few years now, much to the dismay of many 12 year olds across the world... well... the UK.

  • makeamazing #47 3 years ago

    Pegi was just an indication for parents (not that parents looked at it )...and not legal. BBFC was a legal certification.

    My ten year old tells me most of his class mates have played GTA4, and that kinda shows how bad parents have been on the usage front...

    Now Pegi.... sorry but Pegi is rubbish, at least BBFC had a pretty strict set of rules to follow on why they gave ratings to films and games... can anyone tell me why Terminator has a Pegi rating is a 16+... seriously the only violence is fantasy (your shooting robots), there is one swear word... and you dont see any death sequences at all... Now anyone seen the movie... which is a 12A...anyone under 12 can see with a parent... this is one of the reasons why this is a sad day for ratings! Pegi do not have a clue.

  • CB.Gamestation #48 3 years ago

    I wanna know where we stand on the pre-owned market..
    Currently stores cannot take in/sell PEGI versions of games with both ratings.

    Also...the government paid so much money for research into changing the BBFC's logos and policies to incorporate the PEGI-style system of rating at the taxpayers expense...then decide to go for the inferior PEGI system anyway!

  • Setaro #49 3 years ago

    PEGI is a sack of shit.

    And the BBFC are great, and far more liberal than people think.

    That is all.

  • djed #50 3 years ago

    so I take the new system will be...robust? lol.

  • Bloodhunter #51 3 years ago

    only thing im bothered about - i prefer the BBFC label things.

    my game collection must be kept neat!

  • adinus #52 3 years ago

    This may sound like a stupid question, but how on earth does someone actually go about rating a game?

    Hypothetical situation - there's a nice cutesy game out there which takes 20 hours to complete (Mario Galaxy for arguments sake). That's a loooong looong time for someone to play through to check Mario doesn't say fuck shit or bugger. Especially if that's an Easter Egg (like the GTA blowjob).

  • AphoticCosmos #53 3 years ago

    "This may sound like a stupid question, but how on earth does someone actually go about rating a game?"

    Send it to the board you want to rate it [up until now the BBFC or PEGI]. They'll have all files in the commercially-released game made available to them and judge what rating it should be given based on criteria for certain material - i.e. drugs references, adult content [and whether it's explicit or not], what degree of profanity there is or isn't in the game, blood, gore and dismemberment, and horror content.

    They may or may not play through the game itself, often they will just play samples of the game, listen to some of the game's conversations, read the game's text files [or a portion of them] and have things pointed out to them by developers to make the process a lot more streamlined given the huge nature of some games. For example, playing through all of Fallout 3 would be stupid and time-consuming. Since heavy fines can be incurred for lying to the BBFC, there is a strong incentive to tell the truth.

    Generally developers will earmark content that is certain/extremely likely to garner a higher rating first, so that a rating can be arrived at lot faster - you hardly need to rate everything in the game if just a few pieces of content are sufficient to get a 15 or 18 rating.
    Edited by 1 at 17/06/09 @ 01:44

  • 3william56 #54 3 years ago

    Has a game ever had the "discrimination" logo?

    And whilst we're at it, I find the discrimination logo (two white figures looming over a small black figure) discriminatory. Can the logo be changed according to the particular discrimination at work? For example to two black dudes with afros and too much jewelry looming over a badly dressed skinny white teenager for Fiddy Cent's next. A gorgeous skinny woman with huge norks looming over a couple of fat mingers for Tomb Raider? Or a giant douche looming over innocent internet users, for Farticus' next rant.

  • Mellissa #55 3 years ago

    Even PEGI themselves say that only 50% of consumers recognize the content descriptors: [link url=http://www.pegi. info/en/index/id/37/
    ]http://www.pegi. info/en/index/id/37/
    [/link]

    .

  • Rintintin #56 3 years ago

    Why does consistency with the EU matter, I don't recall the last time I popped over to France to visit my local Le Game. The BBFC rating system is well known and has a high profile. PEGI is almost invisible as far as the general public are concerned. I'm not a fan of the BBFC by any stretch of the imagination but this is the wrong decision.

  • bigbadbeasty #57 3 years ago

    It is actually better for us as gamers for PEGI to rate our games, most of Europe use PEGI and this makes getting games published far easier.

    USK who rate games in Germany really slow down getting ratings for launch, if BBFC took over the rights in the UK, it would be the same.

    This is good news.

  • david78 #58 3 years ago

    Every other country has their own film ratings board that take local cultural sensibilities into account, so why do we want a pan european games option?

    I'd much rather having a rating that reflects the country instead of a game being slapped with an 18 based on the fact that someone in Europe finds it more offensive than someone, in say, the UK. I don't actively care who rates what, but I do think the PEGI system needs a big overhaul.

  • penhalion #59 3 years ago

    To all those who complained when the BBFC made a ruling I can only say you should have taken note when people said "Be careful what you wish for".

    PEGI is a whole lot of hurt and seems to be different from country to country. A 12 in the USA isn't necessarily a 12 over here, under the PEGI system. Only now it's also a legally enforcable rating system, where as the BBFC only enforced 18 certificates. Under the new system, if you look under 12 and are buying a 12 rated game, you need ID.

    I haven't laughed so hard in ages. Suddenly the sensible BBFC doesn't seem so bad does it.

  • bigbadbeasty #60 3 years ago

    "A 12 in the USA isn't necessarily a 12 over here, under the PEGI system"

    Erm, that is because PEGI (Pan European Game Information) isn't used in the US. They use ESRB. Age ratings are the same across Europe (apart from Germany), it is better for us to use PEGI.

  • McBradders #61 3 years ago

    BBFC or GTFO.

  • Ryze #62 3 years ago

    Er... surely it was already illegal to sell a game rated 12 or over to a minor?

  • Chufty #63 3 years ago

    Erm, way to be completely stupid, Eurogamer readers. The point is that PEGI are now an independent, specialised, legally enforced ratings body. This is great news for the industry as it will reduce the sale of inappropriate games sold to minors, and will help responsible parents make an informed choice about which games to let their children play.

    The point of this news is NOT that the current PEGI logo looks a bit crap, or that parents might not understand it. Now that it is legally binding and that this will likely make the mainstream news, parents will be more aware of its meaning and will be forced to look out for it when they buy the game.

    Sure, irresponsible parents will buy 18 rated games for their 6 year olds, but you can't cater for those people anyway.

    The point is also not that the PEGI rating system are inaccurate. As it says in the article, they will try and ensure that the ratings board are robust, fair and respectable.

    I'm suprised most of the comments here were so stupid. Usually when a good, serious piece of news appears on Eurogamer, the intellectuals come out to debate it sensibly.

  • GundamJehutyKai #64 3 years ago

    @Chufty: Think of it this way, in the end, it doesn't matter which body does the certification as parents will ignore them regardless and buy inappropriate material for minors regardless of who says what on the box.

    Having said that, the BBFC is considered a little more authorative due to the fact that they rate other forms of entertainment as well, which oddly, are not as widely ignored. People also seem to agree that their certifications are, on the whole, more accurate in determining the rating due to the content due to better defined guidelines.

    If you want robust, fair and respectable out of the box, I think the BBFC would have been the better choice. PEGI are more detailed and flexible, but you need people to actually read the boxes for that to matter!

  • makeamazing #65 3 years ago

    This is great news for the industry as it will reduce the sale of inappropriate games sold to minors, and will help responsible parents make an informed choice about which games to let their children play.

    Nope dont see that at all. If pegi wrongly rate games (BBFC was generally very good)... then parents and children will have no idea what is good or bad. I refer you to the Terminator game as a prime example of very poor Pegi rating.

    Secondly, the ratings on the box regardless of if its Pegi or BBFC does not stop stupid parents from buying their kids games they are too young to play, nor does it stop kids from trying to get hold of such games. People I know in retail have tried numerous times to explain to a parent who is obviously buying a game for a kid that its really not suitable but it falls on deaf ears. I just see Pegi and its poor ratings making the whole situation worse.

  • YenRug #66 3 years ago

    There's a relatively simple way for stores to protect themselves, if they fear repercussions for selling a game to an adult who then gives it to their kids: create a register that customers have to sign when purchasing a product that's over the legal limit, confirming that they understand the legal implications of them passing it on to someone under the legal age (i.e. the imprisonment/fines are applicable to the person who supplied it to the child, not the store); alongside that, you put up clear notices stating that refusal to sign the register indicates that you will not hold the store responsible for supplying the product.

    Creates a win-win situation, you either accept that you are responsible for purchasing and supplying a product for someone under age, or you absolve the seller of responsibilty.

  • secombe #67 3 years ago

    Why the (I assume uneducated) rants at the BBFC (such as the subtle dig in the first post)?

    Sure things were pretty bad 'back in the day', I fondly remember the days of tracking down the 'banned list', Cannibal Holocaust still haunts me to this day. But we now have one of the most liberal censorship boards in the world, acting in the interests of consumers, and not in the pockets of the big companies such as the MPAA.

    Sure you can go unrated in the US, but for 99% of movies this means commercial suicide, and for the odd gem that needs to be unrated and would never see the light of day with an 18 cert here in the UK, we can just import it.

    Edited by 1 at 17/06/09 @ 21:41

  • dcangel #68 3 years ago

    I fail to see exactly how this is going to be better than the existing BBFC classification system.

    As many people rightly pointed out, the BBFC is extremely lenient when it comes to actual censorship - I can think of two instances where a game was initially denied classification, both of which were subsequently granted classification at appeal.

    The BBFC ratings are also instantly recognisable as age limits, whereas PEGI ratings have always been purely advisory - it's going to be tough to get people to take note that PEGI ratings are now legally binding unless it's made very clear at point of purchase.

    Of course, this all brings us more in line with European ratings standards, and that's just soooo OBVIOUSLY a good thing for its own sake.

  • Hexagon #69 3 years ago

    The Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association in the UK is set to front the bill for a new marketing and PR campaign to educate consumers about the newly unveiled PEGI ratings system. The industry seems very willing to regulate itself and these efforts should be noted.