Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB)

Video games are for everyone! This Global Accessibility Awareness Day, Josh Straub, Editor-In-Chief “Can I Play That?” and lifelong gamer and activist, explores how video games helped him as both a hobby and therapy throughout childhood and into his adult life. Our new blog from Josh goes into his individual experience as he entered into the world of video games as a child diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy, and how that led to a PHD and a career in advocacy: #accessibilityawareness #videogames #AccessibilityAwarenessDay #GAAD

With more than 2 million average monthly players, Sea of Thieves is a swashbuckling, multiplayer-friendly adventure rated T for Teen. Today, the game comes out on PlayStation 5, and is already available on Xbox and PC. The teamwork and quick-decision-making elements can make it a great option for families to play together – so find out if this is appropriate for your kids in our latest blog: https://bit.ly/3Whdnja

Video game streaming hub Twitch is currently host to over 140 million monthly active users – is your teen among them? If so, check out our latest blog to for tips and information to help you better understand the platform and how you can use parental controls and privacy settings to help keep your children’s experiences safe and appropriate:

Epic Games’ Fortnite is one of the most popular video games played today, with more than 500 million registered users in 2023. After exploding in popularity due to its Battle Royale mode in 2017, Fortnite recently evolved into a video game platform that offers all kinds of interactive experiences for players beyond the battle royale mode, such as the recently released survival game, LEGO Fortnite, and the rhythm-based experience, Fortnite Festival. But what does this mean for your kids? Visit our latest blog to help navigate all Fortnite has to offer https://bit.ly/4cOSBNz

For the first time since 2006, Princess Peach is taking center stage in a standalone game for the Nintendo Switch, Princess Peach: Showtime! Featuring theater-inspired levels, the game follows Peach’s quest to save the Sparklas and the Sparkle Theater from the villainous Sour Bunch. With the help of the theater’s guardian, Stella, Princess Peach will use magical costumes that offer unique abilities to reclaim the hijacked theater. Visit our latest blog to find out all you need to know to decide if this game is appropriate for your kids: https://bit.ly/498eqVe #NintendoSwitch

Over the past 10 years, more than 3 million developers have used the IARC system to obtain region-specific ratings for their digitally delivered video games and apps. Before IARC, developers would submit their digital games to each rating authority individually. This meant a separate physical application for ESRB in North America, PEGI in Europe, ClassInd in Brazil, USK in Germany, ACB in Australia, GRAC in the Republic of Korea, and so on. Thanks to IARC, developers and publishers looking to release a digitally delivered game or app only need to submit once electronically, and IARC’s proprietary algorithms provides age and content ratings for each of the participating rating authorities, without cost or delay. Follow the link to learn more about how IARC has revolutionized the ratings landscape in the past 10 years. https://bit.ly/3HSGlh0

More than 4 billion parents, gamers, and consumers worldwide have access to IARC-rated video games and apps. IARC revolutionized the process for assigning ratings and helped to broaden access to region-specific age and content ratings that consumers, especially parents, know and trust, regardless of the device they use. Follow the link to learn more about how IARC has slowly but surely become the standard for rating games over the past 10 years. https://bit.ly/3HSGlh0

Since its incorporation 10 years ago, more than 16 million digital games and mobile apps have been rated via the IARC system. This illustrates only a fraction of the true impact of IARC, which has enabled game developers and publishers to obtain regionally specific ratings for their global digital releases quickly at no additional cost, thereby providing parents and caregivers with access to the trusted and familiar age and content ratings they have grown to expect. Find out more about how IARC has reshaped the landscape for rating video games and apps. https://bit.ly/3HSGlh0

Congratulations to the International Age Rating Coalition (IARC) on its 10th anniversary! Over the past 10 years IARC’s rating system for digital games and mobile apps has become the standard used by game rating authorities around the world. A broad spectrum of digital storefronts have adopted the system, including but not limited to Google Play, the Microsoft Store, PlayStation Store, Nintendo eShop, Meta Quest, Fortnite, and more. As a result, billions of parents, caregivers, and consumers can readily access the age and content ratings they know and trust, helping them decide what’s appropriate for their families, regardless of the device on which they play. Follow the link to learn more about the remarkable achievements of this groundbreaking and truly innovative solution. https://bit.ly/3HSGlh0

We always say that the key to keeping your kids safe when playing games online is to nurture an ongoing, judgement-free conversation. Safer Internet Day acts as a great, annual reminder for parents to re-engage with the whole family to decide if any adjustments need to be made to household rules around online video game play. Our new blog has tips and tricks to help parents establish (and tweak!) household rules around online safety. From setting parental controls, to managing friends lists, check out our blog to stay involved and gain some peace of mind around your kids’ online play. https://bit.ly/3HQH2am