ESRB Rating Submission

Steps (38)

• Determine Your Submission Route

  ESRB ratings are obtained via two different routes depending on your distribution method.

  • Physical or retail disc release → formal ESRB submission required (questionnaire + gameplay video reviewed by ESRB raters)

    ~5m

  • Digital-only via participating store (Steam, App Store, Google Play, Epic, etc.) → IARC questionnaire completed in the store's developer portal — no separate ESRB submission needed

    ~5m

  • DLC that introduces content exceeding the base game's rating → separate ESRB submission may be required

    ~5m

• Content Self-Assessment

  Before submitting, audit all game content against ESRB rating categories and content descriptors. Honest and complete disclosure is required — undisclosed content discovered post-release triggers re-rating and may result in a higher rating.

  • Rating Category — determine the likely target rating

    • E (Everyone) — minimal cartoon/fantasy/mild violence; infrequent mild language

      ~3m

    • E10+ (Everyone 10+) — more cartoon/fantasy/mild violence; mild language; minimal suggestive themes

      ~3m

    • T (Teen 13+) — violence, suggestive themes, crude humour, minimal blood, simulated gambling, infrequent strong language

      ~3m

    • M (Mature 17+) — intense violence, blood and gore, sexual content, strong language

      ~3m

    • AO (Adults Only 18+) — prolonged intense violence, graphic sexual content, or gambling with real currency

      ~3m

  • Content Descriptors — identify all that apply

    • Violence descriptors: Fantasy Violence / Violence / Intense Violence / Violent References / Blood / Animated Blood / Blood and Gore

      ~5m

    • Language descriptors: Language / Strong Language / Lyrics / Strong Lyrics

      ~3m

    • Sexual content descriptors: Suggestive Themes / Sexual Themes / Sexual Content / Strong Sexual Content / Nudity / Partial Nudity / Sexual Violence

      ~3m

    • Substance descriptors: Alcohol Reference / Use of Alcohol / Drug Reference / Use of Drugs / Tobacco Reference / Use of Tobacco

      ~3m

    • Humour descriptors: Comic Mischief / Crude Humor / Mature Humor

      ~3m

    • Gambling descriptors: Gambling Themes / Simulated Gambling / Real Gambling

      ~3m

  • Interactive Elements — identify all that apply

    • In-Game Purchases — digital goods purchasable with real currency

      ~3m

    • In-Game Purchases (Includes Random Items) — loot boxes, item packs, mystery awards, or any randomised purchase

      ~3m

    • Users Interact — unfiltered/uncensored user-generated content or interactions between players

      ~3m

    • Shares Location — displays a user's location to other players

      ~3m

    • Unrestricted Internet — includes a browser or unrestricted search/internet access

      ~3m

• Formal Submission (Physical / Retail Games)

  Required for physical releases and some downloadable games not distributed through IARC-participating stores. Submit to ESRB before finalising the build.

  • Questionnaire completed — all relevant content disclosed: violence, sex, language, gambling, substances, context, reward systems, and player control

    ~30m

  • Gameplay video prepared — shows typical gameplay, missions, and cutscenes including the most extreme content in the game

    ~20m

  • Any content that is locked or not normally accessible but pertinent to a rating is disclosed and shown in the video

    ~10m

  • Submission sent to ESRB and Rating Summary received — confirms rating category, content descriptors, and interactive elements

    ~5m

  • Rating accepted, or game content revised and resubmitted

    ~5m

• IARC Questionnaire (Digital-Only Games)

  Completed within each participating store's developer portal. Assigns rating categories and content descriptors automatically. No Rating Summary is generated, but ESRB monitors post-release and may adjust ratings.

  • IARC questionnaire completed honestly in the store's developer portal (Steam, App Store, Google Play, Epic, etc.)

    ~20m

  • All applicable content categories answered accurately — violence, sexual content, language, gambling, substances, user interaction, in-app purchases

    ~10m

  • Assigned ESRB rating and content descriptors reviewed for accuracy before publishing

    ~5m

• Post-Rating Compliance

  • ESRB rating mark and content descriptors displayed correctly on all packaging, store pages, and marketing materials

    ~5m

  • DLC content assessed — if new content exceeds the base game's rating, separate submission made

    ~5m

  • Post-release play-testing awareness — ESRB may test the released game to verify complete content disclosure

    ~3m