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The Loop (Games)
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Pan European Game Information (PEGI), nicknamed Peggy, is a European video game content rating system. It was developed by the Interactive Software Federation of Europe (ISFE) and came into use in April 2003. The PEGI system is not associated with the European Union.
On 16 June 2009, the UK's Department of Culture, Media and Sport ruled in favour of the PEGI system to be the sole classification system for videogames and software in the UK. This decision will also, unlike beforehand, allow PEGI ratings to be legally enforced much like the BBFC ratings. The legislation is expected to take effect from April 1, 2011.
Contents
Ratings
These ratings have been used since June 2010.
| Abbreviation | Rating | Description | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
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3 rating | The content of games given this rating is considered suitable for all age groups. Some violence in a comical context (typically Bugs Bunny or Tom & Jerry cartoon-like forms of violence) is acceptable. The child should not be able to associate the character on the screen with real life characters, they should be totally fantasy. The game should not contain any sounds or pictures that are likely to scare or frighten young children. No bad language should be heard and there should be no scenes containing nudity nor any reference to sexual activity. | Mario Kart Wii |
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7 rating | Any game that would normally be rated at 3 but contains some possibly frightening scenes or sounds may be considered suitable in this category. Some scenes of partial nudity may be permitted but never in a sexual context. | Star Fox 64 3D |
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12 rating | Videogames that show violence of a slightly more graphic nature towards fantasy character and/or non graphic violence towards human-looking characters or recognisable animals, as well as videogames that show nudity of a slightly more graphic nature would fall in this age category. Any bad language in this category must be mild and fall short of sexual expletives. | Super Smash Bros Brawl |
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16 rating | This rating is applied once the depiction of violence (or sexual activity) reaches a stage that looks the same as would be expected in real life. More extreme bad language, the concept of the use of tobacco and drugs and the depiction of criminal activities can be content of games that are rated 16. | No More Heroes |
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18 rating | The adult classification is applied when the level of violence reaches a stage where it becomes a depiction of gross, extreme violence and strong bad language. Only adults are permitted and no one younger than 18 are allowed to play the game. | MadWorld |
Previous designs
| Year | 3 rating | 7 rating | 12 rating | 16 rating | 18 rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 |  |
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| 2009 |  |
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Variants
Used in Portugal, replaces 3.
Used in Portugal, replaces 7.
Used in Finland, replaced by 12.
Used in Finland, replaced by 16.
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Content descriptions
| Icon | Content | Description | Meaning | Examples | Which rating are they used on |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Bad Language | Game contains bad language. | Mild to strong use of profanity | Conker's Bad Fur Day |   
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Discrimination | Game contains depictions of, or material which may encourage, discrimination. | Strong vulgar antics, harassment of one's race, religion, age, gender, sexuality etc. |
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Drugs | Game refers to or depicts the use of drugs. | References, and/or images of alcoholic beverages/illegal drugs/tobacco products. Can also depict the consumption of alcohol, tobacco, and drugs. | Conker's Bad Fur Day |
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Fear | Game may be frightening or scary for young children. | An unpleasant emotion caused by the threat of danger, pain or harm. This 'threat' may be a danger to younger children who play video games, making some games rated for a more mature age group of children. | Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon | 
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Gambling | Games that encourage or teach gambling. Gambling, uncluding betting or wagering cash or currency. | Games that have card playing, etc. or real gambling with currency will be rated 12 and over. | Super Mario 64 DS |
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In-Game Purchases | Games that require In-Game Purchases. | May contain additional paid content, such as microtransactions or downloadable content, that can be purchased with real money inside the game. | Pokémon Sword and Shield | All ages. |
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Online | Game can be played online. | Play games connected to Internet. | Mario Kart 8 | All ages. |
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Sex | Game depicts nudity and/or sexual behaviour or sexual references. | Conker's Bad Fur Day |
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Violence | Game contains depictions of violence. | Violent actions including cartoon-like situations and characters/Violent actions of a fantasy nature, involving human or non-human characters in situations easily distinguishable from real life/Scenes that may involve aggressive conflict e.g bloodless dismemberment/Involves realistic blood/gore/weapons and depictions of human injury or death. | Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles |
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Where PEGI is used
PEGI is used in 31 European countries, Canada and Israel. The ratings system is partially recognised in other countries such as the United Arab Emirates, South Africa and South Asia since they are considered official PAL regions, although they may import games from regions outside of PEGI's jurisdictions. PAL games officially released in Australia are usually rated by the ACB. Legally enforceable means the ratings are not simply "voluntary" or "advisory" but are enforced by some kind of local regulation or law. ESRB is the primary rating system in Canada, while some French-language products, mainly in Quebec, carry a PEGI label.
| Country | Noted |
|---|---|
| Austria | PEGI is legally adopted and enforceable in the Vienna region, but until 2013 there is a transitional arrangement which allows USK as well. |
| Belgium | Officially supports PEGI , but there is no specific legislative basis. |
| Bulgaria | |
| Cyprus | Officially supports PEGI and is represented in the PEGI Council, but there is no specific legislative basis. |
| Czech Republic | |
| Denmark | Officially supports PEGI and is represented in the PEGI Council, but there is no specific legislative basis. |
| Estonia | Officially supports PEGI and is represented in the PEGI Council, but there is no specific legislative basis. |
| Finland | Finland adopts PEGI which is exempt from mandatory classification with national age symbols. Both classifications are enforced by the penal code. |
| France | France has adapted legislation to make classification of video games with age labels mandatory. |
| Greece | |
| Germany | USK system is adopted and enforced. PEGI is not formally recognised, although PEGI labelling can be found on games along with the USK rating. |
| Hungary | |
| Iceland | PEGI is officially supported and age classifications are mandatory for video games by law. |
| Ireland | PEGI ratings are excluded from mandatory classification by IFCO, which adopts PEGI but is still legally empowered to ban certain video game content from the market. |
| Israel | PEGI has been adopted by law as the mandatory classification system for video games in Israel. |
| Italy | Officially supports PEGI and is represented in the PEGI Council, but there is no specific legislative basis. |
| Latvia | |
| Lithuania | Lithuanian legislation adopts PEGI which is exempt from mandatory classification with national age symbols. Both classifications are enforced by the penal code as of Nov 2010. |
| Luxembourg | Officially supports PEGI and is represented in the PEGI Council, but there is no specific legislative basis. |
| Malta | |
| Netherlands | PEGI is officially adopted and legislation is in place to enforce the age classification in shops where video games are sold. |
| Norway | Officially supports PEGI and is represented in the PEGI Council, but there is no specific legislative basis. |
| Poland | Poland officially announced to support PEGI as a self regulatory system, but without preparing additional specific legislation. |
| Portugal | PEGI has officially been adopted by the Portuguese Classification Board IGAC. |
| Romania | |
| Russia | PEGI just as recommendation (No strict laws about game labelling). |
| Slovakia | Slovak media law obliges distributors to mark games with national age labels. |
| Slovenia | Officially supported. No further need for additional restrictions due to extremely low(none?) game-related incident history. |
| South Africa | No official support or legislative basis. Rates all English games due to games sold are imports from the United Kingdom. |
| Spain | |
| Sweden | Officially supports PEGI and is represented in the PEGI Council, but there is no specific legislative basis. |
| Switzerland | Officially supports PEGI and is represented in the PEGI Council, but there is no specific legislative basis. |
| United Kingdom | Currently both PEGI and BBFC are used with the latter being legally enforceable. PEGI is adopted by national law and was expected to replace the BBFC to become legally enforceable from September 2011 at the earliest. |
See also
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