International Age Rating Coalition
 | |
| Abbreviation | IARC |
|---|---|
| Formation | December 2013[1] |
| Type | NGO |
| Legal status | Company |
| Purpose | Classification of digitally delivered video games and apps |
Official languages | Chinese, English, German, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish |
| Website | globalratings |
The International Age Rating Coalition (IARC) is an initiative aimed at streamlining acquisition of content ratings for video games, from authorities of different countries. Introduced in 2013, the IARC system simplifies the process of obtaining ratings by developers, through the use of questionnaires, which assess the content of the product.[2][3] This new process reduces the costs of video game developers as they seek to obtain ratings for their products that are distributed digitally online.[4]
The effort was created through a coalition of rating authorities from around the world, including ESRB in North America, PEGI in Europe, USK in Germany, ClassInd in Brazil, and the Australian Classification Board, and first announced by PEGI's MD at the 2013 London Games Conference.[5][6] In August 2014, the Australian Classification Board introduced amendments to allow for the automated classification process employed by the IARC.[7] On 19 December 2017, South Korea's Game Rating and Administration Committee (GRAC) became a member.
IARC generic rating system
In addition to obtaining official age ratings from the coalition members, developers applying via IARC's process would also get a complimentary generic age rating for their software under IARC's name at any of the participating digital storefronts. These generic ratings can apply to any territory that does not have its own rating system and/or is not formally supported by any existing age rating bodies in the world, including territories whose own local rating body is not officially part of IARC's system yet.
The IARC age ratings are the following:
| Icon | Rating | Description |
|---|---|---|
 |
3+ | Video game or software content suitable for ages 3 and above only. |
 |
7+ | Video game or software content suitable for ages 7 and above only.
May present fantasy violence, bones and/or skeletons without violence, death without violence, non-erotic nudity and insinuated and moderate consumption of legal drugs. |
 |
12+ | Video game or software content suitable for ages 12 and above only.
May present weapons intended for violence, bones and/or skeletons with traces of the violent act, criminal acts without violence, physical and/or verbal aggression, verbal descriptions of violence, medical procedures, exposure to danger, blood, suffering of the victim, exposure of a corpse, death derived from the heroic act, natural or accidental deaths, Bullying, educational sexual content, sexual innuendo, veiled nudity, consumption of legal drugs, irregular consumption of medicines, medicinal use of illicit drugs and derogatory or foul language. |
 |
16+ | Video game or software content suitable for ages 16 and above only.
May present murder, victim in agony, prejudice/stigma, violence against animals, overvaluation of physical beauty or consumption, sexual harassment, nudity, non-explicit sexual intercourse, verbal descriptions of illicit drug use or trafficking, discussions about the decriminalization of illicit drugs, production, trafficking, consumption of illicit drugs and erotic or sexual language. |
 |
18+ | Video game or software content suitable for ages 18 and above only .
May present gratuitous violence, trivialization of violence, violence with strong visual impact, abortion, death penalty, euthanasia, family violence, torture, rape, mutilation, sexual abuse and/or exploitation, suicide, cruelty, praise, glamourization, apology of violence, hate crimes, pedophilia, explicit sexual act, complex sexual situations, apology for the use of illicit drugs and explicit and repeated consumption of illicit drugs. |
Comparison table
A comparison of participants, showing age on the horizontal axis. Note however that the specific criteria used in assigning a classification can vary widely from one country to another. Thus a color code or age range cannot be directly compared from one country to another.
Key:
- White – No restrictions: Suitable for all ages / Aimed at young audiences / Exempt / Not rated / No applicable rating.
- Yellow – No restrictions: Parental guidance is suggested for designated age range.
- Purple – No restrictions: Not recommended for a younger audience but not restricted.
- Red – Restricted: Parental accompaniment required for younger audiences.
- Black – Prohibitive: Exclusively for older audience / Purchase age-restricted / Banned.
| Region/Participant | Age rating | Other | Notes | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0/1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | |||
 Australia (ACB)
|
G | M | R 18+ | RC | The restricted categories are MA 15+ and R 18+. | ||||||||||||||||||
| PG | MA 15+ | CTC | |||||||||||||||||||||
 Brazil (ClassInd)
|
L | 10 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 18 | N/A | The same rating system is used for television and motion pictures in Brazil. | |||||||||||||||
ESRB Canada USA
|
E | E10+ | T | M | AO | RP | This was adopted in 1994 in the United States, most of Canada, and Mexico. The E10+ rating was first used in early 2005. Games rated RP (Rating Pending) do not yet have a rating. Legally enforced in Ontario and Manitoba. | ||||||||||||||||
| EC | |||||||||||||||||||||||
 Germany (USK)
|
0 | 6 | 12 | 16 | 18 | BPjM restricted | |||||||||||||||||
| No labelling | StGB confiscated (Banned) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| IARC | N/A | 3+ | 7+ | 12+ | 16+ | 18+ | N/A | These ratings are used in most countries that aren't represented by or don't have any rating authority.[8] | |||||||||||||||
PEGI Europe except for Germany and Russia Israel
|
N/A | 3 | 7 | 12 | 16 | 18 | N/A | Legally enforced in some countries (but not all). | |||||||||||||||
| 3 | 7 | 12 | 16 | 18 | |||||||||||||||||||
 South Korea (GRAC)
|
ALL | 12 | 15 | 19 | Refused classification | Some app stores require 19 + games to apply for a GRAC rating in order to be available in South Korea. | |||||||||||||||||
References
- ^ https://globalratings.com/iarc10.aspx
- ^ "About the International Age Rating Coalition - IARC". www.globalratings.com.
- ^ Serrels, Mark (19 March 2014). "The Government Is In The Process Of Changing How We Classify Games".
- ^ "The IARC explained, and why you should care: How streamlining classification will change the culture of games censorship". Archived from the original on 19 April 2014.
- ^ Lockley, Greg (13 November 2013). "LGC: PEGI unveils International Age Rating Coalition | Games industry news | MCV". MCV. Archived from the original on 23 January 2016. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
- ^ "New International Age Ratings System Launching Worldwide Next Year - Video Game Deals & UK News - Dealspwn.com". www.dealspwn.com. Archived from the original on 22 March 2016. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
- ^ Reilly, Luke (1 September 2014). "Getting Digitally-Distributed Games Classified in Australia to Be Cost-Free".
- ^ "IARC Ratings Guide". International Age Rating Coalition. Archived from the original on 20 August 2022. Retrieved 18 February 2023.