PEGI has begun raising the age classification for games with loot boxes to 16 in European markets, with the rollout expected to continue throughout October. EA Sports FC and Pokémon Go are among the games affected by the policy change.
The European video game ratings body is applying the stricter classification to titles that include randomized in-game rewards, as first reported by VGC. Loot boxes give players randomized items or rewards within a game, making the outcome uncertain before players receive one.
The change raises classifications without banning games
PEGI provides age classifications for video games sold and distributed across European markets. Its updated approach changes the recommended age label attached to affected releases. It does not amount to a reported ban on EA Sports FC, Pokémon Go, or other titles that use these systems.
The new 16 designation places affected releases in a higher age category than before. Developers and publishers will need to account for that label as PEGI expands the rollout during October, while families will see a more explicit age signal on games that contain randomized reward features.
PEGI’s labels shape how European families assess games
The shift matters because PEGI classifications serve as a common reference point across Europe when parents and players assess whether a game suits a particular age group. Raising the label for randomized rewards puts greater attention on a feature that appears in games with very different formats, from EA’s football series to Niantic’s mobile Pokémon title.
It also draws a clearer line between the games themselves and the mechanics within them. Both identified titles remain available under the current information, but their revised classification could affect how younger audiences and their guardians approach them.
PEGI has not yet identified every additional game that will receive the 16 label, or said when each individual change will take effect. The organization has not stated the specific criteria it uses to assess these features, and it remains unconfirmed whether every regional version of EA Sports FC and Pokémon Go will receive the same classification.
This article was produced with AI assistance from multi-source reporting and is published under our editorial standards.
