Video games that include loot boxes will soon receive a PEGI 16 age rating across Europe.

The change was announced by PEGI (Pan-European Game Information), the organization responsible for video game age ratings across 38 European countries, including the UK.

The new rules will take effect from June 2026 and apply to newly released games.

That means titles containing paid random items — commonly known as loot boxes — will automatically receive a PEGI 16 rating. In some cases, the rating could rise to PEGI 18.

What PEGI is changing

PEGI says the update is meant to reflect how modern games monetize players.

Loot boxes allow players to pay for random rewards, either using real money or in-game currency.

Critics say the mechanic resembles gambling.

Under the new rules:

Games with paid random items (loot boxes) will be rated PEGI 16 by default
Some titles could receive a PEGI 18 rating
Games with NFT-based systems will be rated PEGI 18
Games with paid battle passes or time-limited purchases will receive PEGI 12
Games with daily quests or play-by-appointment mechanics will be rated PEGI 7 or PEGI 12, depending on how strongly they pressure players to return
Games without tools to block or report other players online will receive a PEGI 18 rating

PEGI says the goal is to provide clearer signals to parents about modern monetization systems.

Why this matters

Loot boxes have been controversial for years.

Researchers and regulators have repeatedly warned that the systems blur the line between gaming and gambling, particularly for younger players.

A 2025 study from Bournemouth University described loot boxes as one of the most widely studied examples of “gambling-like mechanics” in games.

Supporters of stricter rules say the new PEGI ratings will make it easier for parents to understand what kinds of systems games include.

The rules won’t affect existing games

One key limitation: the changes will not apply retroactively.

Only games released after June 2026 will automatically receive the new ratings.

That means many popular games with loot boxes will keep their current age ratings.

Some critics say this weakens the impact of the policy.

Emily Tofield, CEO of the Young Gamers & Gamblers Education Trust, said the changes are positive but incomplete.

Without applying the rules to existing titles, she argued, the policy may do little to protect children who are already playing games with loot boxes.

Governments are still hesitant to regulate loot boxes

Despite growing criticism, many governments have avoided direct regulation.

In the UK, the government decided in 2022 not to classify loot boxes as gambling under existing law.

Officials said there was not enough evidence to prove a direct causal link between loot boxes and gambling harm.

Instead, the industry has relied mostly on self-regulation.

Guidelines published by trade body Ukie recommend that players under 18 should not be able to purchase loot boxes without parental consent.

Advertising rules also require companies to clearly disclose when games contain loot boxes.

What we think

PEGI’s new ratings acknowledge something the industry has avoided saying clearly for years: loot boxes behave like gambling mechanics.

But the policy is also cautious.

By applying the rules only to new games, PEGI avoids confronting the biggest titles that already rely heavily on loot boxes.

Games like EA Sports FC generate billions from randomized packs, many purchased by younger players.

Those systems are unlikely to change because of a rating adjustment.

The bigger reality is this: age ratings alone rarely change player behavior.

Teenagers already play PEGI 18 games regularly.

Unless governments introduce stricter regulations — or publishers voluntarily redesign monetization — loot boxes will remain a core part of the industry.

The PEGI update is a signal that attitudes are shifting.

But it’s still a soft warning, not a real crackdown.