Included in these statistics are all the PEGI ratings that were issued using the traditional PEGI pre-release rating procedure, which applies to all games released on discs or cartridges for consoles of Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony, and PC.
If a game is not released in a physical format but is only available as a digital download, the publisher can choose to use the traditional pre-release rating procedure, or it can use the widely implemented IARC procedure (which is based on the exact same criteria. Games that receive their PEGI rating via IARC are not included in the statistics below.
1. Number of products rated, by age category until end of 2023:
PEGI
2019
%
2020
%
2021
%
2022
%
2023
%
ALL
%
3
452
25.8%
435
25.0%
421
24.3%
441
25.2%
435
26.1%
14,214
35.6%
7
364
20.7%
354
20.3%
320
18.5%
282
16.1%
268
16.1%
6924
17,3%
12
402
22.8%
376
21.5%
394
22.8%
511
29.2%
488
29.3%
9461
23.7%
16
325
18.5%
296
17.0%
329
19.0%
316
18.1%
268
16.1%
5786
14.5%
18
214
12.2%
282
16.2%
267
15.4%
198
11.3%
207
12.4%
3545
8.9%
Total
1757
100%
1741
100%
1731
100%
1748
100%
1666
100%
39,930
100%
2. Number of products per content descriptor in 2023:
(* Note: the In-Game Purchases descriptor is not linked to a particular age classification)
PEGI
3
7
12
16
18
Total
%
Violence
-
261
358
213
196
1028
61.7%
Bad Language
-
-
307
108
152
567
34%
Fear/Horror
-
83
65
22
-
170
10.20%
Sex
-
-
72
8
12
92
4.1%
Drugs/Alcohol
-
-
-
15
1
16
1%
Gambling
-
-
1
0
31
32
1.9%
Discrimination
-
-
-
-
0
0
0%
In-Game Purchases*
132
31
84
40
60
347
20.8%
Paid Random Items
22
-
12
8
8
50
3%
PEGI Awareness in 2023
This research was carried out as part of the GameTrack study on behalf of Video Games Europe (VGE). Adults aged 11-64 were surveyed across UK, France, Spain and Italy. The data looks at Parents with children (aged 0-17) and Parents with children who play video games. The focus is on awareness of the PEGI age rating labels and usage (amongst those aware):
- Among all parents, 68% claim to be aware of the PEGI age rating labels.
- Among parents with children that play video games, awareness of the PEGI age rating labels rises to 79%. Of those aware of the PEGI age ratings labels:
- 76% of parents with children that play video games said they use PEGI labels to make an informed decision when considering to buy a video game for their children.
- Nearly half (49%) claim to use the age rating labels and do follow the advice.
- 27% claim to use the age rating labels but do not always follow the advice.
- Almost one in four parents with children who play video games and are aware of the PEGI age rating labels claim to not pay attention to the age rating labels when they consider what games to buy for their child.
- 84% think the PEGI age rating labels are clear (Extremely/Very clear), while only 2% claim they are not clear (Not very clear/Not at all clear)
- 78% feel that the PEGI age rating labels are useful, with only 3% who think they are not useful
- 76% of parents with children that play video games said they use PEGI labels to make an informed decision when considering to buy a video game for their children.
Parental control tools: amongst parents aware of PEGI age rating labels, with children that play video games, 62% say they apply one or more tools to monitor or limit their child’s gameplay.
Sample size: 3,425 (UK: 701 ; FR: 929 ; SP: 968 ; IT: 827)
Sample methodology: Quota sampling. Representative sample of video game players aged 11-64, weighted to the known population of this audience, using an online self-completion survey, with natural fallout of Parents with Children aged 0-17.
PEGI-specific questions were answered by all participants immediately after the main GameTrack survey questions. Fieldwork took place between August and October 2023.