Games With Paid Random Items Like Loot Boxes to Get PEGI 16 Rating

New PEGI rating categories coming in June 2026 will classify games with loot boxes and other in-game purchases.

Published on Mar. 12, 2026

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The Pan European Game Information (PEGI) rating system is undergoing major changes starting in June 2026, with four new categories being added to how the ratings body classifies games. Games with "paid random items" like loot boxes will now carry a default PEGI 16 rating, and in some cases could even receive a PEGI 18 rating. Other new categories include in-game purchases, play-by-appointment mechanics, and unrestricted online communication features.

Why it matters

These new PEGI rating categories aim to provide parents and players with more transparent information about the types of in-game monetization and features present in video games. The changes come in response to growing regulatory pressure and industry responsibility around loot boxes and other potentially predatory in-game purchases.

The details

The four new PEGI rating categories are: 1) Purchases of in-game content (PEGI 12 for time/quantity-limited offers, PEGI 18 for NFTs/blockchain), 2) Paid random items (default PEGI 16, possible PEGI 18), 3) Play-by-appointment mechanics (PEGI 7 for rewards, PEGI 12 for punishments), and 4) Unrestricted online communication (PEGI 18). PEGI worked with the German USK ratings authority to develop these new criteria, which they expect will lead to higher ratings for many games, especially those with loot box systems.

  • The new PEGI rating categories will go into effect in June 2026.
  • The first games to receive ratings under the new system are expected to be released this summer.

The players

PEGI

The Pan European Game Information rating system, which classifies video games in Europe.

Unterhaltungssoftware Selbstkontrolle (USK)

The German age rating authority that PEGI collaborated with to develop the new rating categories.

Dirk Bosmans

The director of PEGI, who stated the new criteria will provide parents and players with more transparent advice about video game experiences.

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What they’re saying

“We are confident that these ambitious updates to PEGI's classification criteria will provide parents and players with more useful and transparent advice that better reflects the overall experience that players can expect from the video games they play.”

— Dirk Bosmans, Director, PEGI (Press release)

“It's not unthinkable that in the next few months, some companies will go like, 'This is outrageous.' But I would also ask them to read the room, and see where we are these days in terms of regulatory pressure on the one hand, responsibilities [of] the industry on the other hand, and how to move forward in between those.”

— Dirk Bosmans, Director, PEGI (GamesIndustry.Biz)

What’s next

PEGI expects the first games to receive ratings under the new categories will be those releasing this summer, as publishers can submit their games for rating ahead of the June 2026 implementation.

The takeaway

These new PEGI rating categories represent an industry-led effort to provide more transparency around in-game monetization practices like loot boxes, which have faced growing regulatory scrutiny. While some publishers may push back, the changes aim to empower parents and players to make more informed choices about the games they purchase and play.