Lootboxes and random purchases will be signaled both in video game boxes and in the respective digital stores.
PEGI is the body that classifies video games by age, an institution that must adapt to new realities. With the advent of the Internet and digital content, loot boxes also emerged, a business model that has only recently become regulated. PEGI has announced that from now on it will offer information on video games that use this type of mechanism, be it lootboxes or card packs. These data will appear by means of a text explanation, next to the icon, which will be visible both in physical boxes and in digital purchases.
The agency explains that since September 2018 it has notified online purchases, but the novelty is that a new text will be added with extra information on this type of functionality. In the statement published on the website, they emphasize that obtaining random objects in online purchases is carried out without knowing what will be achieved in advance. "Depending on the game, these items may be purely cosmetic or may have some important functionality."
PEGI also confirms that in cases where purchases do not have the element of randomness, it will simply be indicated with the message that the product has the possibility of acquiring ingame content. Below are several buttons that reflect the new additions.
The situation in times of the coronavirus
The Japanese namesake of PEGI, CERO, published a statement announcing the cessation of its activity until May, when the state of emergency decreed by the Government due to COVID-19 expires. During that period, no video game will be classified. The opposite will occur in the case of PEGI and ESBR, which will continue to operate normally. If the situation continues in Japanese territory, it is to be expected that some productions may be delayed.
Games like The Last of Us Part 2 or Marvel's Iron Man VR will not come out on their scheduled date not because they have not been rated, but because Sony has determined that it is not the right time to publish their products.
