Popular Games with Loot Boxes to Receive 16+ Rating: PEGI Tightens Rules

PEGI is tightening rules for rating games with paid random rewards: EA Sports FC 27 has already received a 16+ rating, and new requirements will affect other popular projects.

PEGI is tightening rules for rating games with paid random rewards: EA Sports FC 27 has already received a 16+ rating, and new requirements will affect other popular projects.

Changes were discussed earlier, but starting October 2026, the process should accelerate. If a game with a PEGI 3, 7, or 12 rating allows real-money purchases of loot boxes and bundles with random content, its age category may be raised to 16+.

The issue is not microtransactions themselves, but the purchase of an unknown reward. PEGI aims to protect children from mechanics resembling gambling. Researchers are studying the link between such purchases and the risk of addiction.

New rules may also affect other games, including Zenless Zone Zero. PEGI also intends to make warnings about paid random items more prominent on boxes and digital store pages.

This is not a ban on selling games to minors, but a warning for parents and players. PEGI will consider not only what happens on screen, but also the ways games encourage children to spend money.