UK Government To Adopt PEGI Rating System

16 Jun 2009 at 16:13:34 by Andy Alderson

Great Britain will adopt the Pan-European Game Information System (PEGI) for classifying games according to a report published today.

The Digital Britain report, designed to ensure the UK’s position at the forefront of digital and communications technology, states the new model for classifying boxed retail games will be a “strengthened system … incorporating the newly enhanced Pan European Game Information system (PEGI).”

“We have selected the Enhanced PEGI system, as it combines the best of a pan-European self regulatory system designed specifically for video games with a strong UK based statutory regulator taking account of the views of the UK public,” says the report.

“It will give consumers a single set of clear logos for video games thatwill apply across most of Europe, providing an international solution for game content regulation. It has the flexibility required to adapt to the challenge of rapidly-evolving technology in the games sector and will be highly effective in the online world.”

Last year’s Byron report recommended clarifying the "confusing" UK rating system, which combined both PEGI and BBFC ratings.

The result will be seen as a victory for the games industry which favoured the PEGI system over the government-backed BBFC model. The new system apparently meets all of the Byron Report's criteria, providing “improved protection for children” and will, for the first time, make it illegal to sell 12+ rated games to underage children.

You can find the full report here. 

IncGamers recently interviewed Conservative MP Ed Vaizey about the ratings system, check it out here. 

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