PEGI Age Rating Submission

Steps (36)

• Determine Your Submission Route

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

  • Physical / retail release, or digital release not covered by IARC → register as a PEGI signatory via pegi.info and submit directly to PEGI

    ~5m

  • Digital-only via IARC-participating store (Steam, App Store, Google Play, PlayStation Store, Microsoft Store, Nintendo eShop, Epic) → complete the IARC questionnaire in the store's developer portal — no separate PEGI submission needed

    ~5m

  • Confirm PEGI rating is required for all target European markets — 38 countries use PEGI including UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, and Nordics

    ~3m

• Content Self-Assessment

  Audit all game content against PEGI rating categories and content descriptors before submitting. Honest disclosure is essential — incorrect ratings can result in enforcement action.

  • Rating Category — determine the likely target rating

    • PEGI 3 — suitable for all ages; only mild, comical, non-frightening violence; no bad language

      ~3m

    • PEGI 7 — may contain scenes or sounds frightening to young children; very mild, non-realistic violence

      ~3m

    • PEGI 12 — slightly more graphic fantasy violence; sexual innuendo; mild bad language

      ~3m

    • PEGI 16 — violence that looks realistic; stronger language; references to tobacco, alcohol, or drugs; sexual activity

      ~3m

    • PEGI 18 — gross violence; motiveless killing; drug glorification; explicit sexual content; gambling simulation (always PEGI 18 for new titles)

      ~3m

  • Content Descriptors — identify all that apply

    • Violence — depictions of violence at a level appropriate to the assigned rating

      ~3m

    • Bad Language — presence of mild (PEGI 12), moderate (PEGI 16), or strong/sexual expletives (PEGI 18)

      ~3m

    • Fear / Horror — frightening sounds or images (PEGI 7); disturbing or intense sequences (PEGI 16+)

      ~3m

    • Gambling — any simulation of casino or gambling games; always triggers PEGI 18 for new titles

      ~3m

    • Sex — from innuendo (PEGI 12) through depictions of sexual activity (PEGI 16) to explicit content (PEGI 18)

      ~3m

    • Drugs — references to or depictions of illegal drug use; always PEGI 16 or 18

      ~3m

    • Discrimination — ethnic, religious, or other stereotyping; always PEGI 18

      ~3m

    • In-Game Purchases — digital goods or services purchasable with real money

      ~3m

    • Paid Random Items — loot boxes, mystery crates, or any randomised purchase made with real currency

      ~3m

• IARC Questionnaire (Digital-Only Games on Participating Platforms)

  The IARC system automatically assigns PEGI ratings (and ratings from other authorities including ESRB, USK, CLASSIND, and ACB) based on your answers. Completed in the store's developer portal.

  • IARC questionnaire completed honestly and in full in the store's developer portal

    ~20m

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

    ~10m

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

    ~5m

  • PEGI 'Paid Random Items' descriptor applied if the game includes any loot boxes or randomised purchases

    ~3m

  • PEGI 'In-Game Purchases' descriptor applied if any real-money purchases are available

    ~3m

• Formal PEGI Submission (Physical / Retail Releases)

  Requires prior registration as a PEGI signatory. Contact PEGI via pegi.info to begin the registration process.

  • Company registered as a PEGI signatory (contact PEGI via pegi.info/page/publishers-and-developers)

    ~5m

  • Game submitted for classification following PEGI's provided submission procedure

    ~10m

  • PEGI classification received and reviewed for accuracy

    ~5m

• Post-Rating Display & Compliance

  • PEGI age label and applicable content descriptors displayed prominently on all physical packaging (front and back)

    ~5m

  • PEGI age label and content descriptors displayed on all digital store listings in applicable markets

    ~5m

  • PEGI label usage follows PEGI's labelling guidelines — correct size, placement, and colour

    ~5m

  • Any content updates that introduce new material assessed — if the update raises the content level, re-rating considered

    ~3m