PEGI Rating Changes Spark Debate Over Classification Criteria
Balatro, the hit roguelike with poker imagery and poker hands but no actual gambling, has had its PEGI rating changed to PEGI 12 following an appeal by its publisher. The game was originally given a PEGI 3 rating but was bumped up to PEGI 18 due to concerns over "prominent gambling imagery and material that instructs about gambling." Now, both Balatro and Luck Be A Landlord, another roguelike with slot machine mechanics, will have a PEGI 12 rating. This decision has sparked debate among game developers and industry observers, who see it as a step towards more nuanced classification criteria.
- The changes in PEGI ratings highlight the need for more granular classification criteria to address games with gambling imagery that do not necessarily involve real-world gambling.
- Will these revised criteria extend to other forms of simulated gambling, such as loot boxes, and how will this impact the industry's approach to game development?