Australia

Australia Adds Content Advisory Label to Games that Contain Microtransactions

Published

5 years ago

August 19, 2020

Niji Narayan

Australia Adds Content Advisory Label to Games that Contain Microtransactions

Reading Time: < 1 minute

According to a new policy that has been implemented in Australia, the video games sold in the country must receive a rating from the Classification Board of the Department of Communications and display it prominently on all physical content and advertisements.

Since 1 May 2020, all video games sold in Australia have included a rating for in-game purchases (microtransactions and loot boxes).

The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) decided to draw attention to in-game purchases back in April, and Australia’s decision to follow suit should come as no surprise. After all, the stated purpose of the rating is to “strike a balance between matters,” including alerting consumers (particularly families) to objectionable media and shielding children from inappropriate content. Though added quietly with no press release to speak of, the metric is further evidence that public opinion of the practice of in-game purchases has fallen in 2020.

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Niji Narayan

Niji Narayan has been in the writing industry for well over a decade or so. He prides himself as one of the few survivors left in the world who have actually mastered the impossible art of copy editing. Niji graduated in Physics and obtained his Master’s degree in Communication and Journalism. He has always interested in sports writing and travel writing. He has written for numerous websites and his in-depth analytical articles top sports magazines like Cricket Today and Sports Today. He reports gaming industry headlines from all around the globe.