Microsoft teams up with PEGI rating system for Windows Phone games

By Tom Warren, on 31st Aug 11 10:33 am with 9 Comments

Microsoft announced on Wednesday a new collaboration with the Pan-European Game Information (PEGI) Age Rating System.

The Windows Phone platform will now feature age rating certifications from PEGI Express. The age ranking is designed to provide a clear rating to parents and allow for control of children downloading adult games. Windows Phone developers will be able to apply for an age rating certificate for their games. The Windows Phone developer hub will include access to a tool to easily gain certification.

“At Microsoft, providing parents with the tools to help keep their children safe online is a top priority, and we have made considerable investments in this area both in our Windows environment as well as on the Xbox 360”, said Chris Lewis, VP IEB, Microsoft EMEA. “Given the fast growing popularity of mobile gaming amongst a younger age group, we felt that it was critical to apply those same rigorous standards to our Windows Phone devices as currently apply to Xbox and Games for Windows titles”.

“PEGI continues to play a crucial role in the interactive entertainment sector”, added Lewis. “As a founding member of PEGI, Microsoft continues its strong commitment to safe entertainment, by working together with PEGI to help developers rate their games quickly and effectively”.

The announcement marks a series of Windows Phone changes that are due in the coming weeks thanks to Microsoft’s new Windows Phone 7.5 “Mango” release. HTC are due to announce two new handsets on Thursday that include the Windows Phone 7.5 software. Other vendors, including Samsung and Acer, are expected to announce new Mango handsets at the IFA conference on Thursday and Friday.

More information on Microsoft’s PEGI Express collaboration can be found at https://wp-rating.pegi.eu

  • Anonymous

    Hope it has less restrictive rules than Apple’s. Apple’s rules cater to the youngest demographic. No war games or violent gory ones.

    • http://www.facebook.com/Michiel.Papp Michiel Papp

      Pegi ussually doesn’t restrict games. Just warns people about the language/content/gore in a game.

      I don’t think that microsoft will ban any games or apps except they are really going overboard.

    • Keshav Harikrishnan

      Haven’t you heard of Infinity Blade or for that matter Assassin’s Creed, supposedly two of the best games out there for iOS?

  • Roger

    No mention of cost or time taken to seek approval, or if it is compulsory?

  • http://twitter.com/pierrerv Pierre Venescar

    Good works

  • http://twitter.com/Translatethis27 Translatethis27

    Sorry but ANDROID has better games

  • http://twitter.com/Translatethis27 Translatethis27

    Sorry but ANDROID has better games

    • Anonymous

      that’s nice.

    • sausage_party

      Maybe, for now. Though, WP7 has a much richer platform once adoption raises.