Pegi plans paused as Government proposes new game rating system

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has delayed the legal implementation of the Pegi games ratings system. This latest development comes after the DCMS sought to re-introduce British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) ratings on some titles.

Currently, computer games are rated by either the BBFC, which also rates films, or Pegi, a Europe-wide games ratings body.

The PEGI system was due to become legally enforceable this April, but these latest developments are likely to see its implementation delayed until September. It had been agreed that the Pegi ratings system would be the only one used for games.

It has now emerged that the DCMS has highlighted "some areas of contention", which it says would allow for games to be rated by both the BBFC and Pegi. It argues that games that contain trailers should be dual-rated by both PEGI and the BBFC.

Michael Rowlinson, director general of the UKIE, the trade body for the UK's gaming industry, expressed his concern at potential confusion such a decision would cause for consumers:

"Any dual labelling is contrary to the principles that were established in having Pegi introduced into the Digital Economy Act and if this proposal were implemented we believe it would only cause unnecessary and potentially harmful consumer confusion."

Referring to the new system for rating games, a spokesperson for the DCMS told Computeractive "We need to make sure we get it right" and that it is "working with all parties" to do so. The DCMS also reiterated that it is keen for any ratings system to be "as clear and simple as possible".

The UKIE said it was confident that the issues "will be resolved favourably" but also noted that once a system has been agreed it will need the approval of both the UK and European governments.

Consequently, the UKIE believes "there is no realistic chance" of having Pegi implemented before September. The DCMS told Computeractive it was "anticipating early autumn" as a likely date.