New Age Ratings for Loot Box Games Across Europe
Video games containing loot boxes will soon be assigned a minimum age rating of 16 throughout Europe, including the UK, following a series of revisions by the European video game ratings authority.
The Pan-European Game Information (PEGI) system, which provides age ratings on games sold in the UK and other European countries to guide suitability for children of various ages, will implement these changes starting in June.
Loot boxes are in-game features that allow players to purchase random mystery items using real or virtual currency. Recent studies have highlighted concerns that loot boxes blur the distinction between gaming and gambling.
Under the new guidelines, games incorporating loot box mechanics, such as EA Sports FC, may receive significantly higher age ratings.
PEGI's rating system is utilized in 38 countries to assist consumers, particularly parents, in making informed decisions about game purchases. The ratings—3, 7, 12, 16, and 18—indicate the appropriateness of a game for specific age groups rather than its difficulty level.
The updated criteria will classify games featuring "paid random items" with a default PEGI 16 rating, with some cases potentially warranting a PEGI 18 classification.
Dirk Bosmans, director of PEGI, stated it was "confident" the updates would provide "more useful and transparent advice" for parents and players.
Emily Tofield, chief executive of Young Gamers & Gamblers Education Trust (Ygam), described the changes as a "step in the right direction" but emphasized that a PEGI 18 rating should be retrospectively applied to existing titles.
Currently, the new ratings will only apply to games released after June.
"Without applying the rules to current games the policy will do little to protect the children who are already playing them," Tofield said.
Concerns Over Gambling-Like Mechanics in Games
Despite ongoing concerns regarding loot boxes, no legislation in the UK currently regulates their presence or usage within video games.
In 2022, the UK government opted not to amend the Gambling Act 2005 to encompass loot boxes, citing a lack of evidence demonstrating a "causative link" to harm.
However, guidance issued by the trade body Ukie in 2023 requires game companies to restrict players under 18 from purchasing loot boxes without parental consent.
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) enforces bans and removals of advertisements that fail to clearly disclose whether a game contains loot boxes.
Dr Ruijie Wang, who led a January 2025 Bournemouth University study on gambling-related risks to young people, told the BBC that loot boxes are "one of the most studied examples of gambling-like mechanics in games."
"Recognising loot boxes as a risk factor in age ratings is an important step towards reflecting the realities of modern game design, helping to provide parents with clearer signals about potential harms," she said.
Additional PEGI Rating Updates
PEGI's revisions will also assign a PEGI 12 rating to games featuring time-limited systems such as paid battle passes, while games incorporating non-fungible tokens (NFTs) will receive a PEGI 18 rating.
For example, Fortnite, which utilizes various paid-for passes, is currently rated PEGI 12.
Games employing "play-by-appointment" mechanics like daily quests will be rated PEGI 7. However, if these mechanics penalize players for not returning—such as by losing content—the rating will increase to PEGI 12.
Games that do not provide users with options to report or block other players online will be assigned a PEGI 18 rating.
Freelance video games journalist Vic Hood commented that while the new ratings are "positive," their effectiveness depends largely on parental engagement.
"In reality, it will largely be down to parents to educate themselves on why these changes have been brought in and decide for themselves if they deem the games (and their loot box mechanics) suitable for their child," she said.
for our Tech Decoded newsletter to follow the world's top tech stories and trends. Outside the UK? here.
