PEGI announced that from June, newly submitted games containing paid random items (loot boxes) will receive a PEGI 16 rating. While the change is welcomed as a step toward better consumer protection, the rule's non-retroactive nature is a significant flaw — the most popular games like Fortnite, Brawl Stars, and Genshin Impact, which were released years ago, will be unaffected. The author argues PEGI should retroactively apply the rating to currently popular titles, citing Australia's precedent of updating ratings for substantially updated games. Additional concerns include the strictness of 16+ compared to other countries (Germany chose 12+, Australia 15+), potential compliance gaps, and the need for active monitoring and enforcement.
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