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