PEGI Sets Minimum 16 Rating for Loot Box Games in 2026

The Pan European Game Information (PEGI) system, which provides age ratings for video games across much of Europe including the United Kingdom, announced an overhaul of its classification criteria on Thursday. Starting in June 2026, games featuring loot boxes or other paid random reward mechanics will receive a minimum PEGI 16 rating, restricting legal sales to players under 16 in countries that enforce the system.

The changes aim to address growing concerns that such monetization features, including gacha systems, random card packs and keys for unlocking unpredictable items, resemble gambling by involving real-money purchases with chance-based outcomes. Previously, these elements only triggered a notifier on game packaging about in-app purchases, without affecting the overall age rating. Popular sports titles like the EA Sports FC series and NBA 2K games, which have long included such mechanics in modes like Ultimate Team, have carried PEGI 3 ratings despite their optional nature. Under the new rules, future installments submitted after June 2026 will likely shift to PEGI 16 unless developers remove or modify the features.

PEGI director Dirk Bosmans described the update as "the...