ESRB History

 

1994 – ESRB founded by the Interactive Digital Software Association (IDSA was renamed Entertainment Software Association in 2004)

1994 – New ESRB rating system announced, with 5 rating categories and 17 content descriptors
1995 – Advertising Code of Conduct created and adopted by the IDSA

1997 – ESRBi rating system established for the Internet, with 5 rating categories and 22 content descriptors
1997 - Online Rating Notice established to warn consumers of user-generated content in online-enabled games and on websites
1997 – “Instructional” and “Edutainment” content descriptors added to ESRB rating system
1998 – K-A (Kids to Adults) rating category changed to E (Everyone)
1999 – Series of ESRB Public Service Announcements launched featuring Tiger Woods, Derek Jeter and Regis Philbin
1999 – ESRB Privacy Online certification service launched
1999 – Non-pixilated versions of rating symbols introduced
2000 – Advertising Review Council established as division of ESRB to monitor compliance with industry-adopted marketing and advertising guidelines
2000 – ESRB enforcement system established to impose sanctions, including points, fines and corrective actions, on companies who do not comply with ESRB rules and guidelines
2000 – “Mild Lyrics,” and “Strong Lyrics” content descriptors introduced
2001 – New target marketing guidelines for Mature-rated games introduced
2002- “Partial Nudity,” “Nudity,” “Reference to Drugs,” “Reference to Alcohol,” “Reference to Tobacco,” and “Mature Humor” content descriptors introduced
2002 – Arthur Pober departs as ESRB’s founding president; Patricia Vance joins ESRB as its new president
2003 – ESRBi rating system for the Internet discontinued
2003 – “Cartoon Violence,” “Fantasy Violence,” “Intense Violence,” “Sexual Violence,” and “Crude Humor” content descriptors introduced
2003 – “OK to Play?” PSA and retail partnership campaign launched
2004 – “Mature Sexual Themes” content descriptor changed to “Sexual Themes;” “Simulated Gambling” and “Real Gambling” added as content descriptors
2005 – E10+ rating category introduced for games that may be suitable for ages 10 and older

2005 – Canadian Advisory Committee established

2006 – ESRB increases fine up to $1 million for non-disclosure of pertinent content

2006 – ESRB Retail Council (ERC) launched by ESRB and leading computer and video game retailers; "ERC Commitment to Parents" is adopted by all ERC retail members

2006 – ESRB launches ratings education partnership with PTA

2006 – National radio and TV PSA campaign promoting ratings awareness launched with U.S. Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton and Joseph Lieberman

2007 – ESRB launches ratings education partnership with GoodHousekeeping.com

2007 – Ingram Entertainment, the leading wholesale distributor of home entertainment products, distributes ESRB ratings education signage to 10,000 independent and small chain video game retailers nationwide

2008 – ESRB launches its ratings search "widget"

2008 – The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) finds eight in ten underage buyers are turned away when attempting to purchase Mature-rated games

2008 – PTA and ESRB release "Parents Guide to Video Games, Parental Controls and Online Safety"

2008 – Rating summaries are introduced along with ESRB's mobile website at m.esrb.org

2008 – ESRB establishes a partnership with Parenting

2009 – ESRB Privacy Online launches E.U. Privacy Seal Certification program

2009 – ESRB releases a free rating search app for iPhone

2009 – ESRB joins Facebook and Twitter

2009 – The FTC's sixth follow-up Report to Congress lauds ESRB for having "the strongest self-regulatory code" and confirms that retailers have maintained their 80% store policy compliance rate

2010 – ESRB launches PSA campaigns with the New Orleans Saints and Chicago Blackhawks, both of which include TV and radio ads running in their respective regions as well as in-stadium/arena

2010 – The ESRB Website Council (EWC) is established to help ensure that game enthusiast sites post complete rating information and employ age-gates on trailers and videos for M- and AO-rated games

2010 – A new version of the ESRB's free mobile app is launched for Android (in addition to iPhone). Both allow users to look up rating summaries simply by snapping a photo of a game's packaging

2011 – The FTC's mystery shopper study finds enforcement of entertainment ratings to be "highest among video game sellers" with 87% overall compliance

2011 – ESRB introduces its first automated, streamlined process for assigning ratings to console downloadable games

2011 – ESRB launches a version of its mobile app for Windows Phone and adds voice search to enable quicker, easier searches

2011 – The U.S. Supreme Court rules in Brown v. EMA/ESA that video games qualify for First Amendment protection and the sale of violent games may not be restricted by law, a landmark decision that recognized the effectiveness of the ESRB rating system

2011 – ESRB is commissioned by the CTIA, the trade association representing wireless carriers in the U.S., to develop and administer a rating system for mobile apps

2011 – ESRB launches TV, radio and in-arena PSA campaign with the Washington Capitals

2012 – ESRB releases a new print and online PSA campaign featuring real-life parents and gamers and artwork by Penny Arcade

2012 – ESRB launches TV and radio PSA campaign with the San Francisco Giants with airings in AT&T Park and throughout the Bay Area during the 2012 MLB season

2012 – ESRB introduces Digital Rating Service to provide cost-free ratings for digitally delivered games