Nighthawks Developer Baffled by Steam's Adults Only Rating Before Quick Fix
Wadjet Eye Games' upcoming vampire adventure Nighthawks was mistakenly flagged as Adults Only on Steam, sparking developer concerns over discoverability and store policies.
Censorship & Age Ratings
This section compiles reports on content restrictions, platform moderation policies, and age rating regulations across video games and online services. It covers controversies surrounding in-game censorship, rating board procedures, and payment processor restrictions on digital content.
45 articles
EU Kids Act Could Soon Require Gamers to Verify Their Age Before Playing
The European Parliament will review the EU Kids Act on September 17, which could mandate age verification for online platforms and video games like Steam.
ESRB Adds Suggestive Themes Warning to Fortnite Following Revealing Skins and Physics Updates
The ESRB has updated Fortnite's content descriptor with a suggestive themes warning after the game added revealing character skins and jiggle physics.
Japanese Minister Kimi Onoda Urges Creators to Keep Making Content and Ignore Foreign Restrictions
Japanese Minister Kimi Onoda strongly defended manga and anime creators, encouraging them to ignore foreign restrictions and preserve creative freedom.
Hong Kong Platform Removes Yani Neko Over Tobacco Advertising Law Violations
A Hong Kong streaming platform has pulled the anime series Yani Neko due to regulations prohibiting the depiction and advertising of real-world tobacco products.
What Truly Defines a Game Suitable for Children?
An exploration of what makes video games appropriate for kids, reflecting on violent classics played during childhood and game rating systems.
Mario Kart Tour Re-Rated 18+ in Brazil Following Strict New Loot Box Law
Nintendo's Mario Kart Tour has received an 18+ rating in Brazil after new digital legislation banned paid loot boxes and randomized microtransactions for minors.
Major Chinese Anime Community Fan’er Labeled as Anti-China Criminal Organization
The Chinese Communist Party has labeled Fan'er, an online anime community with over 800,000 members, as an anti-China criminal organization.
Chun-Li Swimsuit Skin Banned at Government-Backed Japanese Tournament
Tokyo eSports Festa has banned revealing skins like Chun-Li's swimsuit in Street Fighter 6 to keep the event family-friendly for young attendees.
BBC Faces Backlash After Ex-Producer Is Jailed for Child Abuse Material Following Past Anime Accusations
The BBC faces heavy backlash from anime fans after former producer Dylan Dawes was jailed for child abuse images, sparking accusations of hypocrisy over past criticism of Japanese anime.
PEGI Introduces 4 New Rating Categories Covering NFTs, Loot Boxes, and Modern Game Mechanics
PEGI has introduced four new rating categories to evaluate modern game features, including in-game purchases, paid loot boxes, and unmoderated communication systems.
Chinese Fans Disguise BanG Dream Character as Arknights Operator to Bypass Anti-Japanese Censorship for Birthday Ad
Chinese fans attempted to display a birthday ad for BanG Dream's Togawa Sakiko by claiming she is from the Chinese mobile game Arknights to bypass local backlash.