PEGI - Pan European Game Information
Last updated: 2022-12-23
About our SID activities
Awareness campaigns
For more than a decade, PEGI has been a partner of several nationwide campaigns across many EU territories. Endorsed by both national governments and the industry, those who actively promote safe and responsible gameplay to parents are now able to quickly retrieve all the information they need on how to best engage with their children in their digital activities.
Parents will, among many other possibilities, find explanation notes on PEGI labels, learn how to set up parental control tools, or even understand how their children's online interactions can be monitored. Every campaigns' website is translated in the official language of its country to ensure maximum comprehension by its users.
Useful tips and guidance can be found on the campaigns' websites:
- Austria: www.gemeinsamspielen.at
- Belgium: www.jouezmalin.be / www.speelhetslim.be
- Finland: www.peliviikko.fi
- France: www.pedagojeux.fr
- Italy: https://tuttosuivideogiochi.it
- Netherlands: www.rulethegame.nl
- Poland: www.zapytajogry.pl
- Portugal: http://aepdv.pt
- Romania: https://desprejocurivideo.ro
- Spain: www.thegoodgamer.es
- Sweden: www.fragaprataspela.se
- Switzerland: http://play-smart.ch
- United Kingdom: www.askaboutgames.com
New feature notice on random items added in 2020 to the in-game purchases descriptor
The in-game purchase descriptor will be delivered when the game offers players the option to purchase digital goods or services with real-world currency. Such purchases include additional content (bonus levels, outfits, surprise items, music), but also upgrades (for example, to disable ads), subscriptions to updates, virtual coins and other forms of in-game currency.
This content descriptor is sometimes accompanied by an additional notice if the in-game purchases include random items (like loot boxes or card packs). Paid random items comprise all in-game offers where players don't know exactly what they are getting prior to the purchase. They can be purchased directly with real money and/or exchanged for an in-game virtual currency.
Depending on the game, these items may be purely cosmetic or they may have functional value.
The notice is always displayed underneath or near the age label and content descriptors.
PEGI App
The PEGI App allows you to search easily for video game age ratings and read up on parental controls for your devices at home or on the move.
With this app you can:
- Search through the PEGI database for up-to-date video game and app rating classifications.
- Filter results by age rating, genre, and platform to find suitable games for your children.
- Read through detailed instructions on how to set up parental controls on a range of devices.
- Information about family gaming with "Ask About Games".
- Read detailed descriptions on what content can be found at each age rating and what the content descriptors mean.
IARC
Since 2013, PEGI has been involved in a global initiative called IARC (International Age Rating Coalition) where the rating boards from different regions in the world have joined forces to provide a solution for the globalised market of digital games. It simplifies the process to obtain age ratings by providing publishers with a single set of questions about their product's content and interactive elements.
Thanks to IARC, global online storefronts now automatically display the relevant age ratings according to the region the user is connected from. The system is used by Firefox Marketplace and Google Play, bringing PEGI ratings to the largest collection of apps on the market. In January 2016, Microsoft Windows Store and the Nintendo E-shop also decided to implement it for all digital games and apps on their platforms.
Besides informing about usual age and content ratings, IARC also indicates to consumers if the app they download contains:
- User interaction.
- Data sharing.
- Location sharing.
- Digital purchases.
- The need for a permanent internet connection.
For further information, see www.globalratings.com.
What we are doing to support the SID 2023 theme of "Together for a better internet"...
PEGI continues to support Safer Internet Day (SID) and the protection of minors online. In our changing world which is increasingly defined by digital interactions, we continue to encourage the use of parental control tools, age labels and content descriptors when choosing which games to purchase and play. Check out our online safety tips.
What we are doing to support the 20th anniversary of Safer Internet Day...
This year marks the 20th anniversary of two remarkable initiatives, SID and PEGI. PEGI, Europe’s age rating system for video games, was launched the same year as Safer Internet Day.
Two decades later, both still take part in efforts to provide players and parents with the information they need to enable a safe environment for kids to play, have fun, learn and connect. The digital world has evolved dramatically since 2003, yet PEGI’s mission of helping parents in managing responsible gameplay, even online, remains a top priority. This year, in collaboration with various partners, PEGI will support a number of campaigns across Europe to encourage safe online video gameplay, including the Safer Internet Day campaign.
About us
PEGI (Pan European Game Information) is the European age-rating system for video games.
PEGI helps European parents make informed decisions when buying video games. Launched in 2003, PEGI replaced a number of national age rating systems and is now used throughout most of Europe, in 38 countries. The system is supported by the major console manufacturers as well as by publishers and developers of games that are active in Europe. PEGI was developed by the Interactive Software Federation of Europe (ISFE).
The PEGI labels appear on the front and back of a game's packaging, providing a reliable indication of the suitability of the content. The age rating does not take into account the difficulty level or skills required to play a game. There are also eight content descriptors that work in conjunction with the age labels: violence in a PEGI 7 game (e.g. cartoon-style violence) is different from violence in a PEGI 18 game (strong, graphic content).
PEGI Online is a safety certification that is integrated into the PEGI system. Its purpose is to give young people in Europe better protection against unsuitable gaming content and to help parents understand the risks and potential for inappropriate behaviour within this online environment. The requirements to obtain the right to display the PEGI online compliance label include the obligation to keep the website free from illegal and offensive content created by users and any undesirable links, as well as to take measures for the protection of young people and their privacy when engaging in online gameplay.
Additional links/resources
Website
https://pegi.info/
Contact name
Jennifer Wacrenier
Contact email
jennifer.wacrenier@pegi.eu
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