PEGI has started applying its new "paid random items" descriptor to existing digital titles, bumping EA Sports FC and Pokémon Go from their old low-single-digit ratings straight to 16. Connor Hinde at the UK Games Rating Authority confirmed the rollout last week on LinkedIn, with the changes rolling out progressively through October for games previously rated 3, 7, or 12 that feature loot boxes or equivalent mechanics. The update also hit Zenless Zone Zero, Mario Kart Tour, and Pokémon TCG Pocket, among others.

The policy shift, first announced in March and applied to new submissions since June, explicitly treats paid random rewards like card packs and eggs as an interactive risk comparable to gambling. Physical releases appear spared so far, but any digital-only storefront entry with real-money randomization is now flagged PEGI 16 – Paid random items. ESRB has already said it will not adopt the same framework, leaving the US and Europe on different tracks.

Retailers in PEGI-adopting countries will now age-gate these titles at checkout, and parents get a clearer signal that the monetization layer carries its own rating. The move targets the exact revenue model EA and Niantic rely on without touching the core gameplay, so the business case for loot boxes remains intact—just with higher legal friction for under-16s.

Riley's receipts check out across VGC, Eurogamer, and GamesIndustry.biz reporting; the community reaction on X is mostly "about time" with the usual "why not 18" pushback.