British gamers may very well end up paying more and face later release schedules in the UK if the government adopts a ‘dual ratings system’ with the BBFC and PEGI.
Microsoft’s Neil Thompson warns that any measure in this direction would likely drive up costs that would ”have to be shared with the consumer.” No decision of state has been reached yet.
”We’re in the business of providing great games to a broad audience of gamers, and we need to be able to fulfil that role by getting products to consumers quickly and at a good price,” Neil Thompson, Microsoft’s senior regional director for EDD in the UK and Ireland told GamesIndustry.biz exclusively.
”We’re concerned with any measures that would mean this process is made more unwieldy, or incurs additional costs which have to be shared with the consumer.”
Currently a period of public consultation has been declared regarding the whole ratings subject from the Byron Review, which was commissioned by the UK government. The report concluded that the BBFC should mandatorily rate all videogames deemed 12+ alongside the industries own PEGI system.
”We want a steady stream of product to consumers via retail and therefore support PEGI as the single ratings system in the UK,” he added. ”That way, we’re able to ensure the right content goes to the right audience, as efficiently as possible.”
The public consultation is open to all including the industry, parents and children themselves. Should the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) play a greater role with videogames?
Loading comments…