Germany’s game rating agency creates new labels with warnings for loot boxes, MTX and online chat

The physical and digital packaging of video games in Germany will be much more detailed thanks to updates from USK, the country’s independent game rating body, which has unveiled new rating labels highlighting the presence of lockers. Game microtransactions and online chat.

These new labels accompany some updates to how the Board evaluates game ratings, as it now considers the inclusion of these features when deciding on a final rating. The inclusion of loot boxes does not mean that an age rating will be raised by default, but the USK states that it will consider whether players need to disclose sensitive information and whether the publisher already implements safeguards like parental controls before deciding if this is the case is A game’s age restriction should be tightened. “A legal practice on the specific effects of usage risks on the specific age rating will establish itself over time,” promises the USK.

These changes to game ratings follow a call from the European Parliament to create a set of rules for the EU aimed at protecting game consumers, with a particular focus on loot boxes and child protection. The committee wants to ensure that game developers avoid “addiction-feeding design” and consider “age, rights, and vulnerabilities of children” when creating loot boxes.

The committee also wants to ensure that refund policies follow the bloc’s rules, that canceling subscriptions is as easy as subscribing, and that national authorities crack down on third-party exchanges, sales and betting of in-game items Action.

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