Klachten en Handhaving

Al sinds het begin van PEGI in 2003, behandelen de Klachtenraad en het Handhavingscomité van PEGI regelmatig zaken waarbij verder onderzoek of discussie over de leeftijdsclassificatie van een spel, of over de criteria die een bepaalde leeftijdsclassificatie voorschrijven. Een ad-hoc comité van de Klachtenraad (AHCB) behandelt klachten die door consumenten of door uitgevers zijn ingediend over een bepaalde leeftijdsclassificatie, terwijl het Handhavingscomité toeziet op een correcte uitvoering van de bepalingen van de PEGI Gedragscode.

De besluiten die door deze comités worden genomen, worden automatisch doorgestuurd naar de PEGI Expertengroep om ervoor te zorgen dat fouten, vergissingen, en verkeerde interpretaties van de PEGI criteria worden rechtgezet en dezelfde situatie geen tweede keer kan voorkomen. Deze aanpak zorgt ervoor dat het aantal zaken beperkt blijft en de doeltreffendheid van het PEGI systeem aanmerkelijk verbetert. 

2023:

  • Diablo Immortal (Activision Blizzard)
  • Hunt: Showdown Bounty Hunter - Limited Edition (Plaion)

Both games were published in 2022 and although they contain paid random items (like loot boxes or card packs), this was not disclosed to PEGI when the games were submitted for a rating license. Since this amounts to a violation of the rules described in the PEGI Code of Conduct, the PEGI Enforcement Committee sanctioned both companies with a fine of 5000€. The companies had also taken immediate action to update relevant store listings and marketing materials.

2022:

  • 80 Days and Overboard! (United Games Entertainment) : PEGI 18 bevestigd

The game is a text-based adventure game which was given a PEGI 18 rating for simulated gambling. The publisher appealed the decision and claimed that the context in which the simulation of gambling takes place makes the game fall short of the criterion. The AHCB disagreed and said that the game essentially teaches the rules of a game that can be played in casinos, which is accurately matches the text of the applicable criterion. 

2021:

  • Ruined King (Riot Games) : PEGI 16 bevestigd

The game contained an execution-style killing, which was deemed unsuitable for PEGI 12. Publisher Riot Games appealed the decision on the grounds that the context in which the killing took place made it suitable for younger players. The AHCB upheld the decision by the PEGI Administrators citing that context is not a factor in applying a classification criterion or awarding an age rating.

2020:

  • Stardew Valley (Chucklefish / 505 Games) : veranderd van PEGI 7 in PEGI 12

When the game was originally submitted, a particular portion of the game displaying casino games (blackjack and slot machines), was not disclosed and therefore not included in the original content assessment. A more recent review revealed that this content was present in the game, resulting in an override of the original rating. 

  • Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 (SEGA) : PEGI 12 bevestigd

The publisher argued that the rating should be PEGI 7 because the game includes arcade-style gameplay, the violence is not comparable to fighting games like Streetfighter, and the game provides a less visceral experience compared to other sports games.

The AHCB decided to uphold the PEGI 12 rating because it was based on the realistic depictions of violence in boxing and judo, as described in the criterion "depictions of sporting action showing violence". The fighting is often detailed in slow motion, including multiple instances of hard punching, while accompanied by sound of fighters suffering pain.

2019:

geen zaken behandeld

2018:

geen zaken behandeld

2017:

  • ARMS (Nintendo) : PEGI 12 bevestigd

ARMS is a fighting game in the beat ‘m up genre. The gameplay revolves around hand-to-hand combat. The criterion outlined in question 33 of the PEGI questionnaire was deemed inapplicable, as the helptext of question 33 explicitly refers to question 22 in the case of beat ‘m up (“If the game focuses solely on hand to hand combat (‘beat em up’ genre), question 22 may be more appropriate (e.g. Dragon Ball Z, Street Fighter, King of Fighters, etc)”).

The AHCB concluded that question 22 is more appropriate for this game (Depictions of non-realistic looking violence towards human-like or animal-like characters). The rating of PEGI 12 (Violence) was upheld.

  • Destiny 2 (Activision) : PEGI 18 bevestigd

The AHCB agreed with the PEGI administrator that due to a character  being restrained while violence is taking place, it meets the criteria for questions 1 and 3 in the PEGI questionnaire. Question 1 explicitly mentions ‘physical torture’, while question 3 explicitly mentions ‘violence toward defenceless human-like characters.’ Both questions apply correctly, resulting in the PEGI 18 classification.

2016:

geen zaken behandeld

2015:

geen zaken behandeld

2014:

  • Surgeon Simulator (Bossa Studio) : PEGI 18 bevestigd
  • Infinity 2 (Disney Interactive) : veranderd van PEGI 12 in PEGI 7

2013:

  • Spellforce 2 (Nordic Games) : veranderd van PEGI 16 in PEGI 12
  • Way of the Dogg (505 Games) : PEGI 16 bevestigd
  • Draw Slasher (Mass Creation) : PEGI 16 bevestigd
  • Battlefield Heroes (Electronic Arts) : PEGI 16 bevestigd

2012:

  • Alan Wake (Microsoft Studios) PEGI 18 bevestigd
  • NHL 13 (Electronic Arts) : veranderd van PEGI 16 in PEGI 12
  • LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars (Activision) : PEGI 7 bevestigd

2011:

  • Inazuma Eleven 2: Firestorm (Nintendo) : PEGI 12 bevestigd
  • Sims Medieval (Electronic Arts) : veranderd van PEGI 16 in PEGI 12
  • Diablo III (Activision) : veranderd van PEGI 18 in PEGI 16

2010:

  • Metroid Other M (Nintendo) : PEGI 16 bevestigd

2009:

  • Suske en Wiske: de Texasrakkers (Foreign Media Games) : veranderd van PEGI 12 in PEGI 7
  • Scrabble 2009 (Ubisoft) : veranderd van PEGI 16 in PEGI 12
  • Barbie & 3 Musketeers (Activision) : veranderd van PEGI 12 in PEGI 7

2008:

  • Star Wars: Clone Wars (Activision) : PEGI 12 bevestigd
  • Piraten - Volle Breitseite (Hamburger Medien Haus) : veranderd van PEGI 7 in PEGI 3
  • LEGO Indiana Jones (Activision) : veranderd van PEGI 12 in PEGI 7
  • Animal Crossing (Nintendo) : veranderd van PEGI 12 in PEGI 7

2007:

  • Zack & Wiki (Capcom) : veranderd van PEGI 12 in PEGI 7
  • Test Drive (Atari) : veranderd van PEGI 3 in PEGI 12
  • Power Rangers (Disney Interactive Studios) : PEGI 12 bevestigd
  • Pokémon Battle Revolution (Nintendo) : PEGI 7 bevestigd
  • Global Conflict Palestine (DTP Entertainment) : veranderd van PEGI 16 in PEGI 12
  • Scrabble 2007 (Nintendo) : veranderd van PEGI 12 in PEGI 3

2006:

  • Trauma Center (Nintendo) : veranderd van PEGI 7 in PEGI 12
  • Kirikou (Emme) : PEGI 7 bevestigd
  • Shrek 3 (Activision) : veranderd van PEGI 12 in PEGI 7
  • Need for Speed: Most Wanted (Electronic Arts) : veranderd van PEGI 7 in PEGI 12

2005:

geen zaken behandeld

2004:

  • Atlantis 3 (DreamCatcher) : veranderd van PEGI 3 in PEGI 12