In short
- PEGI is moving digital-only games that sell paid random items, like loot boxes or card packs, to PEGI 16.
- Marvel Rivals, Fire Emblem Heroes, Zenless Zone Zero and Pokémon TCG Pocket have already been re-rated.
- The games don’t change. The label does, and so does what parental controls let through.
If you play Marvel Rivals, Pokémon TCG Pocket or Zenless Zone Zero in the UK or Europe, you’ll now see a PEGI 16 label on the store page. PEGI has started re-rating digital games that sell paid random items: loot boxes, card packs and gacha pulls.
What actually changed?
On October 6, PEGI, the age-rating system used across Europe and the UK, announced that digital-only games with “paid random items” move from PEGI 3, 7 or 12 to PEGI 16. They also get a specific content descriptor on the listing.
The change applies to every storefront that uses PEGI ratings and is rolling out gradually through October. The first re-ratings showed up on October 20.
Which games are PEGI 16 now?
- Marvel Rivals: PEGI 12 to PEGI 16.
- Fire Emblem Heroes: PEGI 12 to PEGI 16.
- Zenless Zone Zero: PEGI 12 to PEGI 16.
- Pokémon TCG Pocket: now PEGI 16.
- EA Sports FC Mobile and Monopoly Go: now PEGI 16.
More free-to-play games are expected to follow over the next two weeks. Oddly, Honkai: Star Rail was still PEGI 12 as of October 20.
Why is EA Sports FC 26 still PEGI 3?
Because this review only covers games that are sold digitally only. FC 26 also comes on disc, so it’s out of scope. FC 27, on the other hand, launched at PEGI 16 because it was rated under the new rules.
What are PEGI’s new rules?
For new games, PEGI has applied these criteria since June 2026:
- Paid random items: PEGI 16 by default, PEGI 18 in some cases.
- Time-limited or quantity-limited offers: PEGI 12.
- NFTs or blockchain: PEGI 18.
- Chat with no way to block or report: PEGI 18.
Does this affect the US or Australia?
Not directly. In the US, games are rated by the ESRB, which hasn’t made a similar change. Australia got there first: since September 2024, new games with paid loot boxes there get at least an M rating, and games with simulated gambling are R18+. So if you’re in the UK or Europe, this is the change that matters to you.
Why it matters
If you’re under 16 or you’ve got younger siblings, this is the part that counts: parental controls that filter by PEGI age can now block these games on profiles set below 16. Worth noting: PEGI isn’t saying loot boxes are gambling. It’s saying that paying for something random is reason enough for a higher age rating.
Quick answers
Does Marvel Rivals change at all?
No. The game is the same. Only the age rating on the store changes.
What does PEGI 16 mean?
The game is recommended for players aged 16 and over.
Does this apply in the US?
No. The US uses the ESRB. PEGI covers the UK and Europe.
Sources: PEGI · Gaming Route
The biggest tech news, in 5 minutes.
