PEGI could adjust age ratings for virtual reality games

Ratings body PEGI admits it may need to reevaluate its ratings system when VR arrives next year.

The firm says it will take a closer look at how it assesses fear and horror in terms of suitability for young audiences.

It follows comments from Sony’s Worldwide Studio boss Shuhei Yoshida, who told Digital Spy at Paris Games Week that a new ratings system might be needed for games that could cause ‘trauma’.

Note that he’s talking about frightening games here, not issues such as motion sickness – which doesn’t fall under
PEGI’s jurisdiction.

PEGI operations director Dirk Bosmans told MCV: PEGI should examine the coming wave of VR products using the current questionnaire, but reserve the right to reassess certain elements – more specifically the criteria around fear (currently rated PEGI 7) and horror (as in non-violent scary imagery, currently rated PEGI 12) – once a broader range of products hits the market in the coming period of time.”