Entertainment Software Rating Board

The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) is a self-regulatory organization that gives age and content ratings to video games in the United States and Canada. It started in 1994 by the Entertainment Software Association because some games had content that worried people. This happened after meetings in 1993 about games like Mortal Kombat, Night Trap, and Doom. The ESRB created a rating system to help parents choose which games are right for their children.

The ESRB uses five main age-based ratings and adds notes about special content in games. They also have rules for online features and spending inside games. Ratings are decided after looking at details from game makers and watching gameplay. Stores often ask for ID when someone buys a game with a higher age rating, and they usually don’t sell games without ESRB ratings. The ESRB also helps make sure games follow rules about advertising to the right age groups.

Although many people think the ESRB does a good job, it has faced some criticism. Some believe it is too easy on games to help the industry, while others think it is too strict, making it hard for adult games to be sold. The ESRB also works with other groups to give ratings to games around the world and checks that websites and apps protect user privacy.

History

Video games that some people found upsetting have existed since the 1970s. As video games became more advanced in the 1990s, people worried about violent and mature content. This led to talks in the United States Senate about video game violence.

To address these worries and avoid government rules, the video game industry created the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) in 1994. The ESRB made a rating system with age groups like "Everyone," "Teen," and "Mature" to help parents choose which games are right for their children. The ESRB also added descriptions to tell parents more about what is in the games.

The ESRB later started rating mobile apps and worked with other groups around the world to rate digital games.

Rating process

The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) rates video games to help families choose what is right for their children. To get a rating, a game maker sends the ESRB a description and video of the game. The ESRB asks different people to look at this information and decide on the best rating for the game.

Sometimes, the game maker may not agree with the rating and can ask the ESRB to look again. The ESRB also checks the final game before it is sold to make sure it matches the rating. This helps players know what to expect from each game.

Ratings

ESRB ratings are shown as symbols on game boxes and advertisements. Each symbol has a letter that tells you the rating. These symbols have changed over time to look better, especially on small screens like phones.

Besides age ratings, ESRB also adds "content descriptors" to tell parents more about what’s in the game. These can include things like types of violence or if players can spend real money on microtransactions. This helps parents decide what games are right for their children.

Icon	Rating	Years active	Description
	Rating Pending (RP)	1994–present	This symbol is used in promotional materials for games which have not yet been assigned a final rating by the ESRB.
	Rating Pending – Likely Mature 17+ (RP)	2021–present	This symbol is used in promotional materials for games which have not yet been assigned a final rating by the ESRB, but are anticipated to carry a "Mature" rating based on their content.
	Everyone (E)	1994–1998 (as K-A) 1998–present (as E)	Games with this rating contain content that the ESRB believes is suitable for all ages, including minimal cartoon, fantasy, or mild violence, and infrequent use of profane language. This rating was initially known as Kids to Adults (K-A) until 1998, due to trademark issues preventing the use of an "E" icon. Prior to 2018, the ESRB had a suggested recommendation of ages 6 and above for the E rating.
	Everyone 10+ (E10+)	2005–present	Games with this rating contain content that the ESRB believes is suitable for ages 10 and over, including a larger amount of cartoon, fantasy, or mild violence than the "E" rating can accommodate, mild use of profane language, and minimal suggestive themes.
	Teen (T)	1994–present	Games with this rating contain content that the ESRB believes is suitable for ages 13 and over, including aggressive depictions of violence with minimal blood, moderate suggestive themes, crude humor, and stronger use of profane language.
	Mature 17+ (M)	1994–present	Games with this rating contain content that the ESRB believes is suitable for ages 17 and over, including intense and/or realistic depictions of violence, blood and gore, sexual content, and frequent use of profane and vulgar language.
	Adults Only 18+ (AO)	1994–present	See also: List of AO-rated video games Games with this rating contain content that the ESRB believes is suitable for ages 18 and over only; the majority of AO-rated titles are adult video games with graphic or explicit sexual content. There have been isolated cases of games receiving the rating for other reasons, including extreme violence, or allowing players to gamble using real money. The latter also includes games that utilize blockchain technology to distribute virtual goods with real-world value.

Icon	Rating	Years active	Description
	Early Childhood (EC)	1994–2018	This rating denoted content which is aimed towards a preschool audience. Games with the rating do not contain content that parents would find objectionable to this audience. The EC rating was retired in 2018 due to underuse; such content today would receive an E rating.

Enforcement

The ESRB rating system is mostly followed by video game companies and stores. Stores may ask for ID to check the age of people buying games marked “Mature.” They usually don’t sell games that haven’t been rated or are rated “Adults Only.” Modern game consoles have settings that let parents control which games their children can play based on the ESRB rating.

Some places, like Steam, show ratings when they are available but don’t always need them. In the United States, there have been efforts to make laws that help enforce these ratings, but some of these laws were challenged in court. In Canada, different provinces have their own rules about enforcing ESRB ratings.

Marketing

The ESRB makes rules for video game ads and packaging. These rules help make sure kids only see games that are right for their age.

In 2013, the ESRB changed some rules. Now, trailers for “Mature”-rated games can be shown to everyone. Some “Mature” games can also be advertised with lower-rated games sometimes.

Online privacy

The ESRB has a program to help websites and apps keep user privacy safe. This program gives advice on making good privacy rules and offers a "Privacy Certified" seal. This seal shows that a site or app follows these rules. In June 2013, the program grew to include mobile apps. This helped them follow new laws about protecting children’s online privacy.

Reception

The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) thinks its rating system works well. It helps parents know what’s in games and encourages stores to check ages for certain games.

After the ESRB began in 1994, most console games started using the ratings quickly. But PC games were slower to use the system. Some stores were not sure how to handle older, unrated games, and employees sometimes did not know the ratings well. By 2011, most stores were better at checking ages.

Some people have wondered if certain games were rated too softly. For example, games like Manhunt and Grand Theft Auto were rated “Mature” instead of “Adults Only.” The ESRB says it uses the stricter rating only when needed and that game makers sometimes change games to keep the “Mature” label.

Usage

The ESRB is used in Canada, Mexico, and the United States. It helps families know which age group is right for each video game. The ESRB also shows what kinds of content might be in the game, like some themes or action scenes. This way, parents can choose which games are best for their children.

Entity	Status of ESRB
Canada	The ESRB ratings system is recognized by law in several Canadian provinces, primarily by restricting the sale of "Mature" and "Adults Only"-rated games to those who are not appropriately aged.
Mexico	Implemented and recognized. Used alongside "Lineamientos Generales del Sistema Mexicano de Equivalencias de Clasificación de Contenidos de Videojuegos" since May 2021.
United States	A series of Senate hearings from 1992 to 1994 led to the creation of the ESRB. Officially implemented and recognized, technically voluntary compliance.