PEGI’s New Age Ratings Restrict FC 27 to Kids Over 16

Video game age ratings in Europe are being updated to address “online interaction risks,” including player communications and paid in-game content. The Pan-European Game Information (PEGI) system is adding new criteria to link age suitability with interactive features, introducing ratings for games with loot boxes as unsuitable for children under 16. Changes will impact future games, like EA’s *FC* series, which will now receive a PEGI 16 rating due to virtual card packs. New classification categories apply from June or when existing games incorporate relevant new features, covering paid random items, in-game purchases, addictive designs, and communication features. This revision coincides with global efforts to regulate potentially addictive gaming mechanisms and aims to better inform parents in a rapidly evolving video game market. PEGI will continue monitoring and reviewing these classifications.