PEGI ratings legally enforceable from today

The Pan-European Game Information ratings system (PEGI) is legally enforceable in the UK as of today, and is now the sole ratings system for video games in the country.

Previously video games were rated through either the BBFC or PEGI, the latter having not been legally enforceable until today.

A sole ratings system was originally proposed back in 2009 by The Byron Review, the crux of the reporting being that “having a dual classification system and two sets of symbols often made things confusing for the consumer”.

Under the PEGI system, retailers who fail to adhere to the strict 12, 16 or 18 rated certificates could face up to a maximum 6 years imprisonment and a fine of £5,000. As well as the ratings system, non-numerical symbols are employed to indicative the specific kinds of content to be found in the game, as well as wether it features any online connectivity.