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What Parents Need to Know About Loot Boxes (and Other In-Game Purchases)

Many games today, particularly those that can be played online or on a mobile device, enable players to earn or purchase virtual items that can enhance their experience. In most cases, you can play through a game without ever having to obtain any of these items. But, as a parent, you might want a bit […]

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Dec 12, 2019

UPDATE Fall 2019: ESRB Retail Council Maintains High Store Policy Enforcement

By Max Jay

Nov 15, 2019

Three Things Every Parent Needs to Know About Video Games for the Holiday Season

By Patricia E. Vance, President, ESRB

Jun 21, 2019

How Parents Can Better Manage In-Game Purchases

By Patricia E. Vance, President, ESRB

May 28, 2019

Ratings Awareness and Use Among Parents Remain High

By Max Jay

Apr 18, 2019

Ending the Tug-of-War Over Screen Time in the Home

By Patricia E. Vance, President, ESRB

Mar 12, 2019

3 Benefits of Video Games that Every Parent Should Know

By Patricia E. Vance, President, ESRB

Jan 10, 2019

ESRB’s 2018 Rating Category Breakdown

By Max Jay

Dec 19, 2018

What Parents Need To Know About Roblox

By Patricia E. Vance, President, ESRB

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Did You Know?

61% of the ESRB ratings assigned to physical and console downloadable video games in 2018 were either E (Everyone) or E10+ (Everyone 10+).

Did You Know?

ESRB has created dozens of PSAs over the years, but the first was a series of spots including Tiger Woods, Derek Jeter, and Regis Philbin in 1999.

Did You Know?

87% of parents who purchase physical video games for their children are aware of ESRB ratings and 77% regularly check them before buying a game. (Source: Hart Research Associates, 2019)

Did You Know?

Most parents consider each part (Rating Category, Content Descriptors, Interactive Elements) of the ESRB rating system to be either “very” or “extremely” important when deciding if a game or app is appropriate for their kids. (Source: Hart Research Associates, 2019)

Did You Know?

Industry guidelines, which are enforced by the ESRB, prohibit the inappropriate target marketing of Mature-rated games.

Did You Know?

ESRB has an enforcement system which allows for the imposition of sanctions, fines (including fines up to $1 million), and corrective actions on publishers for non-compliance with its guidelines.

Did You Know?

According to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission 87% of kids under the age of 17 are turned away when trying to buy an M-rated game at retail.

Did You Know?

The late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia wrote: “This [ESRB rating] system does much to ensure that minors cannot purchase seriously violent games on their own, and that parents who care about the matter can readily evaluate the games their children bring home.”

Did You Know?

The E (Everyone) rating was originally called K-A (Kids to Adults) but was changed in 1998.

Did You Know?

The ESRB rating system has three parts – Rating Categories, Content Descriptors and Interactive Elements, the latter of which were introduced in 2013.

Did You Know?

Introduced in 2008, Rating Summaries provide greater detail about the content in physical games rated by the ESRB, and are exclusively available on this website or the ESRB mobile app by conducting a title search.

Did You Know?

ESRB uses more than 30 different Content Descriptors to help communicate what’s in a game.

Did You Know?

The FTC considers the ESRB to have “the strongest self-regulatory code” among media rating systems in the U.S. and has confirmed that retailers maintain a high store policy compliance rate.

Did You Know?

Founded in 2013 by many of the world’s leading video game rating authorities, the International Age Rating Coalition (IARC) administers the first globally streamlined age classification process for digital games and mobile apps that respects the unique cultural norms of each region.

Did You Know?

In 1999 ESRB Privacy Online (now called ESRB Privacy Certified) launched its certification program and was sanctioned by the FTC as a “Safe Harbor” under Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).

Did You Know?

95% of parents would be more comfortable allowing their children to download and play a game certified by ESRB Privacy Certified (Source: Hart Research Associates, 2018).

Did You Know?

It’s never too late to have “the conversation” with your kids about what, when, and how they can play!

Did You Know?

Activating parental controls on your children’s video game devices helps you enforce house rules, such as limiting play time, blocking games with certain ESRB ratings, and managing in-game spending.

Did You Know?

The average age of a gamer today is 33.