PEGI's new age rating rules They point directly to one of the most controversial phenomena in video games in recent years: loot boxes and random paid rewards. This regulatory shift could completely change how popular titles like the former FIFA, now known as EA Sports FC, are sold and played, especially in Europe and in countries like Spain.
In practice, this means that games previously considered "for all audiences" They could become titles not recommended for viewers under 16. Among the names being mentioned most are EA Sports FC 27The next installment of Electronic Arts' football simulator, which would no longer have such an easy time maintaining the usual PEGI 3 rating if it keeps its model of random packs and cards in Ultimate Team.
What is PEGI and why is it key in Europe?
PEGI is the pan-European system that classifies video games by agewith ratings such as PEGI 3, 7, 12, 16 or 18. Their recommendations appear on physical boxes, in digital listings on online stores and serve as a reference for parents and guardians when deciding whether a game is appropriate for minors.
Although the rating It does not act as a direct legal prohibition. In most countries, PEGI ratings carry significant weight: they determine marketing campaigns, store placement, and the public perception of whether a title is for children, teenagers, or clearly adults. A jump from PEGI 3 to PEGI 16, like the one proposed for EA Sports FC 27, represents a major change in the game's rating system.
The big change: loot boxes and paid random items will be upgraded to PEGI 16
The element that triggers the new regulations is very specific: random paid items, known as loot boxesPEGI has decided that any game that includes this type of mechanics will receive a minimum PEGI 16 rating by default from the date the new rules come into effect.
This category includes card packs, gacha systems, and keys or consumables that unlock random rewardsprovided they are obtained in exchange for real money or virtual currency acquired with money. The agency's idea is to equate these practices, at least in part, with dynamics similar to gambling, which is especially problematic when the experience is aimed at a young audience.
The organizers explained that the objective is to close the legal loopholes that allowed loot boxes to be disguised under different namesWhether they're called envelopes, chests, digital cards, or draws, if the contents are random and you pay for the chance to get something more valuable, it fits the definition of a loot box for the new PEGI 16 rating.
EA Sports FC 27: from PEGI 3 to PEGI 16 by Ultimate Team
One of the clearest cases affected by this change is that of EA Sports FC 27, direct successor to the FIFA sagaUntil now, EA's football games carried a PEGI 3 rating, meaning "suitable for all audiences." However, the presence of Ultimate Team mode, based on buy card packs with random players, places them squarely in the new scenario.
Ultimate Team combines real money and random rewards to obtain football player cards of varying rarity and value within the game. For many players, it's the core of the experience, but for years it has raised suspicions due to its resemblance to gambling systems, the encouragement of recurring spending, and cases of users who have invested large sums of money in search of the most coveted cards.
With the new regulations, everything points to the fact that EA Sports FC 27 could not maintain the PEGI 3 rating If it retains the current structure of packs and odds in Ultimate Team, the game would be rated at least PEGI 16, and in more extreme scenarios, it could even approach PEGI 18 if its design were deemed too similar to the logic of online casinos.
For Electronic Arts, this would mean a very delicate change of scenery in EuropeSports games, traditionally perceived as family products, would be associated with an age range reserved for more adult content, although the reason is not explicit violence or foul language, but their economic model.
Entry into force and room for maneuver for publishers
The new PEGI rules are planned for to come into effect from June 2026This means that the new rules will apply to games submitted for rating from that date onward. Games that have already been rated will not automatically change their rating, giving companies some leeway to adapt.
In theory, an editor could try expedite the submission of a game for review before the change in criteria to retain the old rating for another year. There has been speculation that EA might opt for a similar strategy with EA Sports FC 27, although there is no official confirmation at the moment, nor is it clear whether it would be feasible given the timelines and internal processes.
PEGI has also left the door ajar to applications for requalification in exceptional casesas well as requesting additional information from publishers if it detects particularly sensitive elements. However, the organization itself acknowledges that, currently, there is no real mechanism to lower the rating of a game with loot boxes below PEGI 16 if those mechanics remain active as standard.
Spain, Europe and the context of loot boxes
The tightening of PEGI's criteria comes at a time when Europe is particularly critical of loot boxes. In countries like Spain, where loot boxes have been the subject of intense debate and restrictions In recent years, the change fits with a general trend of linking these mechanics to potential risks of gambling addiction in minors.
For more than a decade, popular games like FIFA, Diablo, Counter-Strike, or Dota They have used random reward systems for payment. Initially seen as a way to extend the life of the games, over time cases of uncontrolled spending have emerged, especially among young players who didn't always understand the financial implications of their in-game purchases.
The new PEGI 16 rating for games with paid random items aims send a clearer message to familiesIt's not just about shootings or blood, but also about how a game can encourage continued spending, take advantage of the fear of being left behind, or generate habits similar to gambling.
Four other major areas that raise the PEGI rating
Loot boxes are not the only focus of the changes. The European body has defined four key areas related to monetization, online interaction and reward structure that will directly affect the age classification.
- In-game purchases and limited-time offersIf a title includes microtransactions with time-limited or limited-quantity offers, it will be classified at least with a PEGI 12 rating. The aim is to warn of possible pressures for impulsive purchases, linked to the fear of missing out on temporary "bargains".
- NFTs and blockchain technologyGames that integrate non-fungible tokens or other blockchain-related elements will be rated PEGI 18. This is considered to involve a level of economic and speculative complexity which is not suitable for children.
- Daily missions and punishments for not logging inIf the game simply encourages players to return daily with small rewards, the minimum rating will be PEGI 7. However, if penalizes the player for not connectingFor example, by causing it to lose progress or content, the label will be raised to at least PEGI 12.
- Unmoderated chats and communicationTitles that allow communication between users (text chats, voice chats, or private messages) and do not offer clear tools to block or report other players They will be rated PEGI 18, due to the risk of harassment or exposure to inappropriate content.
At the same time, PEGI clarifies that Certain games with microtransactions could have their rating lowered. if they include built-in systems that allow for effectively disabling in-app purchases, for example, through robust parental controlsIn theory, this could pave the way for similar solutions to be considered for loot boxes in the future, although for now the organization itself admits that this option is not on the table.
Collaboration with Germany and alignment with youth protection
To design this new set of criteria, PEGI has worked side by side with USK, the German classification societyGermany updated its Youth Protection Act in 2023, incorporating specific considerations on aggressive monetization, loot boxes, and online interaction without safeguards.
The result is a European system that It is not limited to measuring violence or foul languagebut it also assesses what strategies a game uses to keep the user engaged, what pressure it exerts to make them spend money, and what level of psychological or economic risk it may pose to younger players.
PEGI insists that its intention is improve the information available to parents and guardiansThis will allow them to make more informed decisions about the type of experience each title offers. The numerical age rating will remain the visible element, but behind it will be a deeper analysis of the game's underlying mechanics.
Impact on EA Sports FC, Fortnite, and other major live-service games
The changes don't just affect EA. Many of the big games as a service Their ranking could be altered if they maintain business models based on loot boxes, battle passes with punitive daily missions, or unfiltered chats.
In the case of EA Sports' sports simulators, such as EA Sports FC, Madden NFL or PGA TourThe impact could be especially noticeable because, until now, they have been sold as clearly child-friendly products, with PEGI 3 or PEGI 7 ratings. With the new rules, it is very likely that future installments, including EA Sports FC 27, will jump straight to PEGI 16 if they continue to rely on packs and random cards to structure their flagship mode.
Other titles that are very popular among children, such as Fortnite or other games with gacha systemsThey might also be forced to review their ranking or mechanics, especially if they combine random paid rewards with daily challenges that penalize not logging in or open chats without sufficient moderation.
To avoid these increases in recommended age, companies would have to rethink their monetization model: offer more direct purchases without chance, make the probabilities of obtaining each item transparent, or enable effective tools so that parents can limit or block online purchases and communication.
Design changes and potential industry reactions
The new regulations send a clear warning to studios and publishers: If you want to remain "suitable for all audiences", you'll have to moderate your monetization systems.For years, loot boxes have been a very profitable source of revenue, especially in games that are updated seasonally and depend on users continuing to spend time and money long after launch.
With a PEGI 16 or 18 rating, many titles would lose some of their appeal to families, something that can impact on sales and on the relationship with distributors and storesIt's not the same to put a sports game "for everyone" on the shelf as one labeled for older teenagers or adults, even if the visual content is still more or less realistic football.
Some studies might opt for Maintain your current systems while accepting the PEGI upgradeSome are confident that the strength of their brand will offset the impact. Others, however, could use this opportunity to redesign their internal economies, reduce the use of envelopes, opt for more transparent models, or strengthen parental controls to avoid conflicts with families and regulators.
What does PEGI 16 mean for families and children?
It should be remembered that PEGI 16 is an age recommendation, not an absolute legal prohibitionIn practice, a child of that age could still play EA Sports FC 27 or any other title with that label, but parents will be much more clearly warned that the game includes mechanics that may be problematic for a child audience.
In many homes, it is common for when a minor asks for “FIFA”No one bothers to look at the PEGI rating, precisely because it's assumed to be "just a football game." With the new classification system, that perception could begin to change, forcing families to learn more about what Ultimate Team mode really entails and how much money they can spend in the game.
European agencies are confident that this reinforced warning will lead to a more responsible use of in-game purchasesEncourage the activation of parental controls and reduce extreme cases of uncontrolled spending, such as those of minors who have invested thousands of euros in envelopes and boxes without full awareness of their real cost.
All this regulatory movement places FIFA PEGI 16, or more precisely EA Sports FC 27 PEGI 16, as a symbol of a new stage in the relationship between video games, real money, and child protection in Europe. What was previously seen as mere virtual trading cards is now viewed with the same suspicion as other risky products, forcing both the industry and families to rethink how, how much, and why money is spent within a game that, at first glance, only aimed to simulate a football match.