PEGI will soon have a warning label for physical games that offer in-game purchases

in-game-purchase-black-EN.jpg

The European rating's board, PEGI, has announced that they'll be adding a new label warning for physical games that have in-game purchases. Any video game that offers microtransactions, lootboxes, or downloadable content will now have a small logo on the back of its box denoting such. PEGI already uses a similar method for digital-only games, but this will be a first for them to have on physical retail releases. This change was prompted by the recent removal of paid lootboxes in some European territories, as well as a new consumer survey that was done, describing that 40% of children play video games and spend real-life money on in-game content.

Purchase offers within games has become a broad phenomenon, and it is necessary to provide the same level of consumer information on both physical and digital releases. Considering that physical releases are an important part of the market, this was an important gap to fill. For a parent who may not be fully familiar with the video games landscape, seeing this simple descriptor on the packaging of a game they consider buying should trigger the reflex of keeping an eye on the gameplay, once the game has been purchased and given to the child. It's basic information, but that's what parents sometimes feel they are lacking.

This new warning label will appear on physical copies of games starting later this year.

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Arras

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What if they get added after launch? If the icon is not there, are they not allowed to add in game purchases?
 
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FAST6191

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As with others I don't know that "downloadable content" necessarily warrants being lumped in with the other stuff (which I would count as the same really, no great benefit from distinguishing the two).

What if they get added after launch? If the icon is not there, are they not allowed to add in game purchases?
Is it that common for such a thing to happen?

Anyway I imagine it will be something like new prints/pressings/runs will need to include it. Any countries that mandate the PEGI thing being there will probably also want shops selling copies (or possibly just new copies or copies if they are a big retailer) to put a sticker on the box to note it as well, not sure which party will bear the expense for that one. If they design it right then they can probably make one which goes over the existing one. You get similar setups when there are product advisories that go out.

I wonder then if such a thing will be used to tell what version of a game you have in the future.
 
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Arras

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As with others I don't know that "downloadable content" necessarily warrants being lumped in with the other stuff (which I would count as the same really, no great benefit from distinguishing the two).


Is it that common for such a thing to happen?

Anyway I imagine it will be something like new prints/pressings/runs will need to include it. Any countries that mandate the PEGI thing being there will probably also want shops selling copies (or possibly just new copies or copies if they are a big retailer) to put a sticker on the box to note it as well, not sure which party will bear the expense for that one. If they design it right then they can probably make one which goes over the existing one. You get similar setups when there are product advisories that go out.

I wonder then if such a thing will be used to tell what version of a game you have in the future.
In terms of microtransactions, no, those almost never get added later. DLC counts as the same though, and that might be more common. Most games are made with dlc plans in mind from the get go nowadays though, so they'll probably just end up slapping this icon on everything.
 

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Excellent. I personally would like something that distinguishes between loot boxes, dlc, and micro-transactions, but that's just me.
Same.
Especially since DLC isn't technically an in-game purchase. It's usually a purchase you make on the corresponding online marketplace.
 

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The problem I have, is who actually looks at these labels, I know I don't and I certainly know that most parents don't. Hell, you can verbally describe that GTA 5 isn't for little johnny and they don't really care until the next day when they come storming in saying how inappropriate the game is and how dare you sell it to them.

At the end of the day this is not what is needed. Yes it is a first step but microtransactions and loot boxes need regulation not a sticker on a box that no one looks at.
 

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As with others I don't know that "downloadable content" necessarily warrants being lumped in with the other stuff (which I would count as the same really, no great benefit from distinguishing the two).


Is it that common for such a thing to happen?

Anyway I imagine it will be something like new prints/pressings/runs will need to include it. Any countries that mandate the PEGI thing being there will probably also want shops selling copies (or possibly just new copies or copies if they are a big retailer) to put a sticker on the box to note it as well, not sure which party will bear the expense for that one. If they design it right then they can probably make one which goes over the existing one. You get similar setups when there are product advisories that go out.

I wonder then if such a thing will be used to tell what version of a game you have in the future.
I hope the stickers are on the plastic covering the boxes and not on the boxes themselves, if they go this route.
 
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Again for American buyers. This is for the European market and not the American market but everyone here is treating it like it will be also on American boxes. It won't wich is a good thing since it doesn't look all that pretty
 
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