Popular games such as Pokémon Go, Pokémon TCG Pocket and titles in the EA Sports FC series are among the games that now receive a PEGI 16 age rating in Europe due to the presence of paid random rewards, known as loot boxes. The change is part of a review that now reaches products already available on the market.
According to a report published by Video Games Chronicle on Wednesday (21), Mario Kart Tour and Zenless Zone Zero also appear among the titles affected by the update.
The new criteria establish PEGI 16 as the default rating for games that offer random items in exchange for payment, although certain cases may receive PEGI 18. The rule does not apply automatically to every game with in-app purchases.
Criteria now also apply to games already released
The European PEGI system began evaluating new games using expanded criteria in June 2026, considering not only their content but also monetization and interaction mechanisms.
On October 6, the organization announced that it would extend the review to existing digital games, previously rated as PEGI 3, 7 or 12, which offer paid random rewards.
Connor Hinde, policy manager at the Games Rating Authority, which administers PEGI in the United Kingdom, confirmed that the criteria had begun to be applied:
“The Games Rating Authority has begun applying these updated criteria to certain existing digital products.”
The implementation is taking place gradually throughout October and covers games rated both through PEGI's traditional procedure and through the international IARC system.
The update also requires companies to review the ratings displayed in digital stores and keep their future promotional materials up to date.
For consumers, the new rating signals that certain random purchase mechanisms are considered relevant to age suitability, even when the rest of the game's content would be suitable for younger audiences.
PEGI 16 does not represent an automatic ban for minors under 16 across all of Europe. The legal effects depend on each country's legislation, while digital stores and parental control systems may apply their own access and purchase restrictions.
