Entertainment Software Rating Board

The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) is a self-regulatory organization that assigns age and content ratings to consumer video games in the United States and Canada. It was established in 1994 by the Entertainment Software Association in response to criticism of some video games with very violent or sexual content. This happened after special meetings in 1993 where people were worried about games like Mortal Kombat, Night Trap, and Doom. The ESRB created a rating system to help parents decide which games are suitable for their children.

The ESRB uses five main age-based ratings and adds extra notes about specific content in each game. They also have rules for online features and spending inside games. Ratings are given after looking at information 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 protect 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 with content that some people found upsetting go back to the 1970s. As video games became more advanced in the 1990s, concerns grew about violent and mature content. This led to hearings in the United States Senate about video game violence.

In response to these concerns and to avoid government regulation, the video game industry created the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) in 1994. The ESRB developed a rating system with age categories such as "Everyone," "Teen," and "Mature" to help parents decide what games are appropriate for their children. The ESRB also added content descriptors to give more details about game content.

The ESRB later expanded its work to include ratings for mobile apps and worked with other rating groups worldwide to create a system for rating digital games.

Rating process

The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) rates video games to help families decide what is appropriate for their children. To get a rating, a game maker sends the ESRB a detailed description and video of the game. The ESRB then has different people review this information to decide on the best rating for the game.

Sometimes, the game maker might not agree with the rating and can ask the ESRB to reconsider. The ESRB also checks the final game before it is released to make sure it matches the rating given. This helps make sure players know exactly what to expect from each game they play.

Ratings

ESRB ratings are shown as icons on game packaging and ads, each with a letter for the rating. These icons have changed over time to look clearer, especially on small screens like phones.

Besides age ratings, ESRB also adds "content descriptors" to tell parents more about what’s in the game, like types of violence, sexual content, or if players can spend real money on microtransactions. These help parents decide what’s suitable 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 mainly followed by video game companies and stores. Stores often ask for ID to check the age of people buying games marked “Mature,” and 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 sets rules to make sure video game ads and packaging show the right age ratings and are shown in appropriate places. This helps make sure kids only see games that are right for them.

In 2013, the ESRB made some rules easier, allowing trailers for “Mature”-rated games to be shown to general audiences and letting some “Mature” games be promoted with lower-rated games under certain conditions.

Online privacy

The ESRB also has a program to help websites and apps protect user privacy. This program gives guidance on creating good privacy policies and offers a "Privacy Certified" seal to show that a site or app follows these rules. In June 2013, the program was expanded to include mobile apps, helping them follow new laws about protecting children’s online privacy.

Reception

The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) believes its rating system works well. It helps parents understand what’s in games and encourages stores to enforce age limits for certain games.

After the ESRB started in 1994, most console games used the ratings quickly. However, PC games were slower to adopt the system. Some stores were unsure how to handle older, unrated games, and employees sometimes didn’t know the ratings well. By 2011, most stores were doing better at checking ages, with only 13% of underaged “mystery shoppers” able to buy mature-rated games.

Some people have questioned whether certain games were rated too softly. For example, games like Manhunt and Grand Theft Auto were rated “Mature” instead of “Adults Only,” partly because stricter ratings might hurt sales. Stores and console makers often avoid “Adults Only” games, limiting where they can be sold. The ESRB defends its ratings, saying it uses the stricter rating only when needed and that game makers often choose to edit games to keep the “Mature” label.

Usage

The ESRB is officially recognized and used in Canada, Mexico, and the United States. It helps families understand what age group is appropriate for each video game and what kinds of content might be included, such as violence or thematic elements. This system was created so parents can make informed choices about which games are suitable 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.