You May Need to Turn 16 to Play Genshin Impact and FC 27 Under New PEGI Rules

PEGI rating changes might completely alter the gaming ecosystem. The Pan European Game Information Authority has set a new standard for age ratings, and it could affect a large share of trending games in the current market. They've implemented new classifications, especially those that have in-game purchases, pressure to play, and other incentives that include daily quests. On that note, this article explains which game could be affected by this major overhaul and what this means.

New PEGI Ratings Might Restrict Children Even From Entering Trending Titles

For those not familiar with PEGI ratings, it is the standard metric used across Europe. It decides the age suitability of a title. As of now, PEGI uses 5 types of rating systems:

• PEGI 3: Suitable for every age.
• PEGI 7: Might contain mild scary and violent content.
• PEGI 12: Includes Mild Bad Language and Less Violence.
• PEGI 16: Have more violence and gambling elements.
• PEGI 18: Games which are solely made for adults and include violence, gore, themes, sexual content, and strong language.

Considering the old metric system, popular titles were PEGI 16-rated. The names include EA FC 26, and other gacha titles, such as Genshin Impact and Honkai Star Rail. As per Dirk Bosmans all of the aforementioned games will be considered under PEGI rating changes. Bosmans is the Director of PEGI's statement.

According to the new and upcoming rules, games that contain any loot box system or in-game purchases will now be considered as PEGI 16. It means you have to be at least 16 or above to dive into these titles.

In a recent interview with GamesIndustry.biz, Bosmans mentioned how this idea was heavily inspired by USK, the German organisation. USK made some tweaks and restricted loot boxes to avoid online risk. And rightly so, PEGI is following the same footsteps. Surprisingly, not only gacha games, but also popular Battle Royale Fortnite will be affected by this decision. Currently, Epic Games' flagship title is considered PEGI 12, but following the PEGI rating update Europe, it'll be PEGI 16, too. Therefore, no more fancy skins for the kids.

EA FC 27 Is Set To Be PEGI 16

While we've talked about gacha games and Battle royales, another game that'll be impacted is from the EA FC franchise. Currently, the title features a PEGI 3 rating, suitable for everyone. Based on the PEGI loot box rating, it's quite evident that it'll soon be under a PEGI 16 rating. While FC 26's rating won't be changed in the middle of the season, EA's upcoming one, FC 27, will certainly be affected by the new rating system. Considering the criteria like In-game purchases, Pressure To Play, and Paid Random Items, the new rating seems justified.

This, however, isn't the first time an EA FC title has faced such a consequence. Countries such as South Korea and Belgium have already restricted players' right to purchase FC points. It's certainly going to impact the overall player base and the revenue model of large-scale studios.

Talking about FC 27, check out our recent coverage of The Grounds Mode Leaks.