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Pan-European Game Information
PEGI - Logo.svg
Formation 9 April 2003; 22 years ago (2003-04-09)
Purpose Classification of video games
Location
Region served
 Most European countries (excluding Germany and Russia), Israel
Parent organization
 Interactive Software Federation of Europe

PEGI (which stands for Pan-European Game Information) is a system that helps people in Europe choose the right video games and apps. It gives age recommendations and describes what kind of content is in a game. This helps players and parents make smart choices before buying.

The Interactive Software Federation of Europe (ISFE) created PEGI. It started in April 2003. Before PEGI, many countries had their own rating systems. PEGI brought them all together into one system for Europe. Today, 41 countries use PEGI. It works based on a set of rules that all game makers agree to follow. PEGI has five age groups and nine content descriptions. These tell you if a game is right for a certain age based on what's inside. Remember, the age rating doesn't tell you how hard a game is to play!

Understanding PEGI Age Ratings

PEGI uses five main age categories. These ratings help you know if a game's content is suitable for your age group.

Rating Description
PEGI 3.svg Games with a PEGI 3 rating are good for everyone. They won't have scary sounds or pictures for young kids. Any violence is very mild, like in cartoons, and no bad words are used.
PEGI 7.svg This rating is for games that might have some sounds or scenes that could be a little bit scary for younger children. Very mild forms of violence are okay, but it's not detailed or realistic.
PEGI 12.svg Games in this group might show violence that's a bit more clear, especially towards fantasy characters. Violence towards human-like characters is not realistic. Some mature themes or mild bad language can be in these games.
PEGI 16.svg This rating means the game might show violence that looks more like real life. Stronger language can be used. Sometimes, themes like tobacco or alcohol use might appear.
PEGI 18.svg The 18 rating is only for adults. It's used when violence is very strong, like showing violence towards helpless characters. Very mature themes, including gambling, can also be in these games.
PEGI PARENTAL.svg Besides age ratings, there's a "Parental Guidance Recommended" label. This means the content is for all ages, but parents should watch over activities, especially for kids under 18.

How PEGI Ratings Are Decided

So, how does a game get its PEGI rating? It's a careful process!

The Rating Process Explained

When a game company wants a rating, they send their game and other materials to an independent group. This group is called the Netherlands Institute for the Classification of Audiovisual Media (NICAM). They look at everything and decide on the rating. This system is similar to the Dutch Kijkwijzer system.

After the review, the game company gets permission to use the PEGI rating logos. If a company doesn't agree with the rating, they can ask for an explanation. They can also complain to a special board. Players can also complain to this board if they think a rating is wrong.

Who Oversees PEGI?

Even though game companies helped start PEGI, the ratings are given by groups that are independent. This means they don't work for the game industry. Several boards and committees watch over the whole system.

  • The PEGI Council is made up of people from different countries. They suggest changes to the rules as society, laws, and technology change. Members are experts like child psychologists, media specialists, and legal advisors.
  • The Complaints Board has experts from many European countries. They handle complaints if someone thinks the rules were broken or a rating is incorrect. If a problem can't be solved easily, the Complaints Board will look into it. Game companies must follow the board's decisions. If they don't, they can face penalties.

PEGI's Global Connections

PEGI works with other rating systems around the world to make things easier for everyone.

International Age Rating Coalition (IARC)

In 2013, PEGI helped create the International Age Rating Coalition (IARC). Other groups like USK (from Germany) and the ESRB (from North America) were also involved. IARC makes it simpler to rate games and apps that are sold online.

With IARC, game makers only need to fill out one form online. Then, they instantly get ratings from PEGI, USK, ESRB, the ACB, and other systems. This saves a lot of time and effort!

PEGI Online: Staying Safe Online

In 2007, PEGI created a special part of its system called PEGI Online. This was made to help protect young people when they play games online. It also helps parents understand how to keep their kids safe in online gaming. The European Commission supports this project.

PEGI Online has four main ideas:

  • A set of safety rules that all participating online game services must agree to.
  • A special PEGI Online Logo that companies can display if they follow the rules.
  • A website with information for game companies and the public.
  • An independent group that manages the system and helps solve problems.

If an online game service follows the PEGI Online Safety Code, they can get permission to show the PEGI Online Logo.

Where PEGI Is Used

PEGI is the main age rating system for video games in 40 European countries and Israel. You might also see PEGI labels on games in other parts of the world. This often happens when games are imported from Europe.

The official status of PEGI ratings can be different in each country. Some countries use PEGI as the standard without specific laws. Others have officially accepted PEGI as the only rating system. Some countries have even made PEGI ratings part of their laws, meaning stores must follow them.

Countries That Officially Support PEGI

Many countries officially use and support the PEGI system.

Country Status Local system
European Union Austria Officially supports PEGI. Some areas have laws for it, others don't.
European Union Belgium Officially supports PEGI, but no specific law.
European Union Bulgaria Officially supports PEGI, but no specific law.
European Union Cyprus Officially supports PEGI, but no specific law.
European Union Czech Republic Officially supports PEGI, but no specific law.
European Union Denmark Officially supports PEGI, but no specific law.
European Union Estonia Officially supports PEGI, but no specific law.
European Union Finland Games with PEGI ratings don't need other national ratings. Both are enforced by law. KAVI
European Union France Laws make it mandatory to classify video games with age labels.
European Union Greece Officially supports PEGI, but no specific law.
 Iceland PEGI is officially supported, and age ratings are required by law.
European Union Ireland PEGI ratings are accepted. A local group can still ban some content.
 Israel PEGI has been the mandatory rating system for video games since 2007.
European Union Italy Officially supports PEGI, but no specific law.
European Union Latvia Officially supports PEGI, but no specific law.
European Union Lithuania PEGI is part of Lithuanian law. Both PEGI and national ratings are enforced.
European Union Luxembourg Officially supports PEGI, but no specific law.
European Union Malta PEGI is the legal system for game classification since 2016.
European Union Netherlands PEGI is officially used, and laws enforce age ratings in stores.
 Norway Officially supports PEGI, but no specific law.
European Union Poland Officially supports PEGI, but no specific law.
European Union Portugal PEGI has been officially accepted by the Portuguese Classification Board. IGAC
European Union Romania Officially supports PEGI, but no specific law.
European Union Slovenia Officially supports PEGI, but no specific law.
European Union Spain Officially supports PEGI, but no specific law.
European Union Sweden Officially supports PEGI, but no specific law.
 United Kingdom PEGI is the legal system for game classification in the UK since 2012. BBFC

Other Countries and PEGI

Some countries do not officially support PEGI, or they use their own rating systems.

Country Status Local system
 Albania Does not use PEGI labels and has no specific law.
 Bosnia and Herzegovina Does not use PEGI labels and has no specific law.
European Union Croatia Does not officially support PEGI, but PEGI labels are often seen on games.
European Union Germany Uses its own system, USK. PEGI is not officially recognized. USK
European Union Hungary Does not officially support PEGI, but PEGI labels are often seen on games.
 Kosovo Does not use PEGI labels and has no specific law.
 Moldova Does not use PEGI labels and has no specific law.
 Montenegro Does not use PEGI labels and has no specific law.
 North Macedonia Does not use PEGI labels and has no specific law.
 Russia Uses its own RARS system since 2012. All games must have this rating. RARS
 Serbia Uses PEGI labels, but official support is not clear.
European Union Slovakia Uses its own JSO system. Imported games need a JSO sticker. JSO
 Switzerland Is preparing laws to make video game age ratings legally required.
 Turkey Uses PEGI labels on most games, but has no official law about PEGI.
 Ukraine Does not officially use PEGI, but many games sold there have PEGI labels.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Pan European Game Information para niños

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