Who Decides Video Game Ratings? (Global Rating Boards)

Video game ratings are assigned by independent rating boards that review content and assign age-appropriateness ratings:

• ESRB (North America): US/Canada standard—rates violence, language, sexual content, drugs
• PEGI (Europe): Primary European system—similar age-based categories
• CERO (Japan): Japanese market—unique letter/number system
• OFLC (Australia): Rates games and films with child protection focus

Key point: Rating boards are regional, not global. The same game can receive different ratings in different countries based on local standards.

Many countries also have national rating systems beyond these major boards.