Starting June 2026, any video games with loot boxes or similar mechanics will be rated PEGI 16 across Europe as part of new changes to the age-rating system.
This will impact any game with mechanics like loot boxes, gacha systems, random card packs, or keys that can be used to unlock random rewards, all of which fall under “paid random items.”
The changes come in response to rising concerns that loot boxes in video games closely resemble gambling mechanics, as players often have to spend real money for rewards that are randomly determined and built around a psychological element of chance.
The new changes to the age-rating system will also have an impact on other modern game design and monetization features:
- Social casino-style games that simulate gambling with virtual currency will now have an age rating of PEGI 18.
- Limited-time purchase pressure mechanics, such as rotating shop offers or other deadline-based purchases like Battle Passes, may result in a PEGI 12 rating for games involved.
- Daily reward systems and login streaks that incentivize players to repeatedly log into a game could fall under PEGI 7 to PEGI 12, depending on whether players are penalized for missing days.
- Games including online communication via text, voice, video, or other means without any form of moderation or safety tools could potentially receive a PEGI 18 rating.
What This Means for Games
These changes to the PEGI age-rating system mean that sports games featuring card packs, gacha titles, and other games currently rated between PEGI 3 and PEGI 12 could be receiving higher ratings going forward, reflecting the increasing scrutiny of monetization in games. However, note that the rule will only apply to titles submitted for rating after June 2026.
Rockstar’s GTA 6 is a recent example: its PEGI 18 rating lists violence, sex and drugs but carries no gambling label, unlike GTA 5 on PS5.
