What the Entertainment Software Rating Board is for America, Pan European Game Information is for Europe (as well as most of the CIS, Ukraine, Georgia, most of the Arab world, Israel, Africa and India among others), in that it's Europe's most prominent video game rating system (except in Germany, where the USK system is used, in Russia where games are being rated using the Russian Age Rating System, in Saudi Arabia where games are rated by the GCAM, in the UAE where games are rated by the MRO and in South Africa where games are rated there by the FPB). It was created in 2003 and gives one of five age ratings taking into consideration one of eight content descriptors.note The games are rated by publishers filling a questionnaire that enquires on possibly family unfriendly content, such as violence, sex or bad language. After receiving it, PEGI's online rating system automatically gives a rating to a game along with content descriptors.
Its website can be found here
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The age ratings PEGI uses:
PEGI 3 (formerly PEGI 4 in Portugal until 2021)
The lowest age rating. As the name implies, games with it are meant for people three or more years old.
The only content descriptor this age rating comes with is In-Game Purchases (formerly Online).
Other rating systems' counterparts to this rating:
- Entertainment Software Rating Board's Everyone rating (as well as their now-discontinued Early Childhood rating)
- Unterhaltungssoftware Selbstkontrolle's USK 0 rating
PEGI 7 (formerly PEGI 6 in Portugal until 2021)
The second-lowest age rating. As the name implies, games with it are meant for people seven or more years old.
The content descriptors that come with this rating are Violence (usually mild or catoonish), Fear (things that may be scary or suspenseful for children), In-Game Purchases and formerly Online.
Other rating systems' counterparts to this rating:
- Entertainment Software Rating Board's Everyone and Everyone 10+ ratings
- Unterhaltungssoftware Selbstkontrolle's USK 6 rating
PEGI 12 (formerly PEGI 11 in Finland until 2007)
The middle rating. As the name implies, games with it are meant for people twelve or more years old.
The content descriptors that come with this rating can be Violence (in a slightly graphic manner), Bad Language (mild swearing), Fear/Horror (horrific sounds or effects, but no violent content), Sex (sexual posturing or innuendo), In-Game Purchases and formerly Gambling (until 2020) and Online.
Other rating systems' counterparts to this rating:
- Entertainment Software Rating Board's Everyone 10+ and Teen ratings
- Unterhaltungssoftware Selbstkontrolle's USK 12 rating
PEGI 16 (formerly PEGI 15 in Finland until 2007)
The second-highest rating. As the name implies, games with it are meant for people sixteen or more years old.
The content descriptors that come with this rating can be Violence (realistic), Bad Language (sexual expletives or blasphemy), Sex (erotic nudity without visible genitals), Drugs, In-Game Purchases and formerly Gambling (until 2020) and Online.
Other rating systems' counterparts to this rating:
- Entertainment Software Rating Board's Teen and Mature ratings
- Unterhaltungssoftware Selbstkontrolle's USK 16 rating
PEGI 18
The highest rating. As the name implies, games with it are meant for people eighteen or more years old.
The content descriptors that come with this rating can be Violence (realistic, usually gory), Bad Language (sexual expletives or blasphemy), Gambling, Sex (explicit sexual activity), Drugs, Discrimination, In-Game Purchases and formerly Online.
Other rating systems' counterparts to this rating:
- Entertainment Software Rating Board's Mature and Adults Only ratings
- Unterhaltungssoftware Selbstkontrolle's USK 18 rating
