In 2019, as in every previous year, the E for Everyone Rating Category continues to be the most frequent rating assigned by the ESRB according to our Rating Category Breakdown. Check out the chart below to see what portion each Rating Category represents of the more than 4,000 ratings that we assigned last year. We […]
59% of the ESRB ratings assigned to physical and console downloadable video games in 2019 were either E (Everyone) or E10+ (Everyone 10+).
Learn More87% 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)
Learn MoreMost 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)
Learn MoreIndustry guidelines, which are enforced by the ESRB, prohibit the inappropriate target marketing of Mature-rated games.
Learn MoreESRB 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.
Learn MoreAccording 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.
Learn MoreThe 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.”
Learn MoreThe E (Everyone) rating was originally called K-A (Kids to Adults) but was changed in 1998.
Learn MoreThe ESRB rating system has three parts – Rating Categories, Content Descriptors and Interactive Elements, the latter of which were introduced in 2013.
Learn MoreIntroduced 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.
Learn MoreESRB uses more than 30 different Content Descriptors to help communicate what’s in a game.
Learn MoreThe 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.
Learn MoreFounded 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.
Learn MoreIn 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).
Learn MoreMore than 70% 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).
Learn MoreIt’s never too late to have “the conversation” with your kids about what, when, and how they can play!
Learn MoreActivating 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.
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