In a recent and significant development in the gaming industry, the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) has started assigning Adults Only (AO) ratings to certain blockchain games, prompting a notable policy change at the Epic Games Store. This move marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing dialogue about the intersection of gaming, blockchain technology, and digital content regulation.
Historically, the Epic Games Store has maintained a stringent policy against adult content, explicitly prohibiting the distribution of AO-rated games. However, this policy recently underwent a revision, creating an exception for games that received the AO rating solely due to their incorporation of blockchain technology.
This shift is particularly noteworthy given the contrasting stance of Steam, which banned NFT games in 2021, while Epic Games Store, under CEO Tim Sweeney, has been more open, allowing developers the freedom to incorporate blockchain elements in their games.
This openness was tested when the ESRB assigned an AO rating to blockchain-based games like ‘Gods Unchained’ and ‘Striker Manager 3’, not for sexual content but due to their play-to-earn elements offering cash prizes.
This decision aligns with the ESRB’s guidelines, which classify games with real currency gambling, prolonged intense violence, or graphic sexual content under the AO category. The inclusion of blockchain technology, particularly when it facilitates cash rewards, has now emerged as a potential trigger for this rating.
The ESRB’s Ratings and the Industry’s Response
https://twitter.com/EpicGames/status/1737200788622225625
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The ESRB clarified that these ratings were not directly due to the games being blockchain-based but rather how the blockchain elements were implemented. The ESRB assesses whether games offer rewards with real-world value or require cash expenditure for such rewards, factors that can influence a game’s rating.
In response to their AO ratings, ‘Gods Unchained’ and ‘Striker Manager 3’ were removed from the Epic Games Store, in accordance with its guidelines.
However, in a strategic move, Epic Games Store updated its policy, allowing AO-rated games if the rating is attributed solely to the usage of blockchain or NFT technology.
This decision, however, doesn’t provide a blanket approval for all blockchain games. The games must still adhere to Epic’s content guidelines and Blockchain Technology Requirements, which prohibit facilitating gambling.
Discrepancies and Controversies in Ratings
https://twitter.com/GodsUnchained/status/1737226410442326451
The ESRB’s approach to rating blockchain games has sparked discussions about the consistency and fairness of its ratings. For instance, other blockchain games with elements similar to those in ‘Gods Unchained’ and ‘Striker Manager 3’ have received lower ratings.
A case in point is ‘Polker’, a blockchain-based poker game that, despite its play-to-earn aspects, received a T (Teen) rating for “simulated gambling and suggestive themes.”
This discrepancy raises questions about the ESRB’s rating criteria and its application to blockchain games. While the ESRB has historically been criticized for some seemingly arbitrary ratings, the advent of blockchain technology in gaming presents new challenges in categorizing and regulating digital content.
The recent actions by the ESRB and the Epic Games Store’s subsequent policy update represent a significant moment in the gaming industry’s adaptation to the evolving landscape of blockchain technology.
This situation underscores the complexities and nuances involved in rating digital content, particularly as new technologies like blockchain become more prevalent in gaming. As the industry continues to evolve, the balance between innovation, regulation, and consumer protection remains a critical and ongoing conversation.
