Maik Seidl | 12/14/2022 – 4:02 p.m
In-game purchases, chats and loot boxes will have an impact on the USK rating in the future and can also be found in the notes on game packaging and in other relevant places.
while the Announcing the cut version of Dead Island 2 for the German market gives the impression that the USK examiners have no soft spot for the desecration of dead zombies, a press release from the entertainment software self-control also makes it clear that game-internal features such as purchase or communication options will in future be included in the evaluation and have an influence on the classification of the respective game can have.
With this in mind, the independent USK committees can now check in individual cases whether certain usage functions may pose an increased risk for children and young people, for example in relation to chats or unwanted expenditure.
Existing protective measures are taken into account
Existing protective measures, on the other hand, can have a positive effect on the threatened higher classification. According to the USK, this includes parental control systems developed by the industry, which “parents can use to monitor their children’s play behavior responsibly”.
“In order to give families even more orientation, the tried-and-tested age ratings will be expanded to include information on use and content,” says the USK. “In future, parents will be able to see at a glance the reasons that led to the age rating (e.g. comic violence or pressure to act) and which risks should be kept in mind when using the media (e.g. chats, in-game purchases or forwarding of location).”
Parents and all players who want to find out more about the game’s internal systems and dangers before making a purchase can find relevant information, for example on the back of the game packaging and in the USK title database.
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The USK points out that the introduction of the new regulations is due to the amended Youth Protection Act of May 2021. Interested parties can get the updated guiding criteria download from the USK website.
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