German Games Industry Association Concerns Over EU KIDS Act Impact on Rating Systems

The German Games Industry Association, known as Game, is raising significant concerns regarding the European Union’s proposed KIDS Act, warning that the draft legislation could potentially dismantle long-standing, well-established age-rating systems. Unveiled in draft form in September, the act is poised to have sweeping repercussions for game developers across the continent. According to reporting by GamesIndustry.biz, the association fears that new European-wide codes of conduct introduced under the act may override established national frameworks, creating a regulatory environment that threatens the existing standards parents have trusted for decades.

The conflict with existing standards

Currently, Germany relies on the USK rating system for video games, while the PEGI system serves as the standard across the majority of Europe. Game suggests that the KIDS Act could create a fragmented environment where the same video game receives conflicting age ratings, such as a 12+ rating in one store and a 16+ rating in another, depending on the platform. The association notes that both systems have been recently modernized to account for complex gaming mechanics. The USK system was overhauled in 2023 to evaluate features such as loot boxes and online communication, and the PEGI system was amended earlier this year to automatically assign a 16+ rating to any game featuring loot boxes.

While the KIDS Act is primarily targeted at regulating social media, including a proposed ban for children under 13 and restrictions for those under 15, its inclusion of binding codes of conduct for age ratings goes beyond current frameworks. Felix Falk, managing director of Game, emphasized in a press statement that the European Commission is under intense pressure to tighten youth protection rules for social networks. In this process, Falk warned that the youth protection structures that function effectively for games are in danger of becoming collateral damage.

Why it matters

For players, developers, and parents, the impact of the EU KIDS Act could be substantial. Game is advocating for the EU to preserve and integrate existing USK and PEGI standards rather than forcing new, potentially conflicting procedures. The association argues that games are not social networks and require distinct regulatory considerations. Instead of blanket access restrictions, Game is calling for the EU to treat games differently by basing protection obligations and age checks on actual risks. They further suggest that policy should focus on strengthening parental controls so that parents can continue to decide what is appropriate for their children. Ultimately, the industry body maintains that children have a right to both protection and a right to play, and they argue that any new legislation must not disproportionately limit the digital participation of young people or undermine the successful system of self-regulation already in place.