Games With Loot Boxes To Get Minimum 16 Age Rating Throughout Europe
13 March 2026
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Laura CressTechnology reporter
Games which feature loot boxes will quickly be provided an age rating of 16 throughout Europe, consisting of in the UK, under a host of changes by the European video game ratings organisation.
The Pan-European Game Information body (PEGI)'s age ratings are shown on games sold in the UK and other nations in Europe to suggest their viability for children of various ages.
Loot boxes are an in-game function allowing players to purchase random secret products with genuine or virtual currency, however current research has found they blur the line between video gaming and betting.
The new rankings, taking effect from June, might see video games including loot box systems, such as EA Sports FC, get a much higher age score.
The PEGI system is utilized in 38 countries to assist customers and particularly moms and dads make notified decisions about the video games they acquire.
Its scores of 3, 7, 12, 16, 18 are utilized to indicate a game's viability for certain age, instead of difficulty.
The organisation's changes to this system will see games including "paid random items" branded PEGI 16 by default. It says in some cases this could rise to PEGI 18.
Dirk Bosmans, director of PEGI, said it was "positive" the updates would supply "more useful and transparent recommendations" for parents and players.
Emily Tofield, president of Young Gamers & Gamblers Education Trust (Ygam), stated they were a "step in the best direction".
But she added a PEGI 18 ranking must be applied retrospectively to existing titles.
Currently the new ratings will just apply to games released after June.
"Without using the rules to present games the policy will do little to protect the children who are currently playing them," Tofield stated.
'Gambling-like mechanics'
Despite issues about loot boxes, no UK legislation regulates how and where they appear in computer game.
The UK government chose in 2022 not to amend the Gambling Act 2005 to consist of loot boxes, saying no evidence showed a "causative link" to harms.
But by trade body Ukie in 2023 said game companies need to restrict players under 18 from acquiring loot boxes without parental approval.
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) states it prohibits and removes ads which fail to make the clear whether or not a video game includes a loot box.
Dr Ruijie Wang, who led a January 2025 study from Bournemouth University into the hazardous dangers of gambling on youths, told the BBC loot boxes were "one of the most studied examples of gambling-like mechanics in games".
"Recognising loot boxes as a danger consider age rankings is an essential action towards showing the realities of modern game style, assisting to provide moms and dads with clearer signals about prospective harms," she stated.
PEGI's new additions will also see games with time-limited systems, like a paid fight pass, now get a PEGI 12 score and video game with non-fungible tokens (NFTs) be rated PEGI 18.
Fortnite, which utilizes a range of different paid-for passes, is currently ranked PEGI 12.
Games with "play-by-appointment" style mechanisms such as daily quests will get a PEGI 7 ranking - but if the systems "punish gamers for not returning", such by losing content, they will end up being PEGI 12.
Games doing not have any method for users to report or obstruct players online will receive a PEGI 18 ranking.
Freelance computer game reporter Vic Hood stated while the new scores were "favorable", it was difficult to see what distinction they would make unless moms and dads likewise took them seriously.
"In truth, it will mainly be down to parents to educate themselves on why these modifications have been brought in and decide on their own if they consider the video games (and their loot box mechanics) suitable for their child," she said.