Supported ratings authorities and configurations
USA and Canada (ESRB)
Authority: Entertainment Software Rating Board Website: https://www.esrb.org Game Ratings Search: https://www.esrb.org/search/ Contact Info: https://www.esrb.org/privacy/contact/Requirements for downloadable content
If the game add-on content (i.e. XBOX console DLC) which is required for base game play has a different rating than the core game, the publisher is required to obtain an updated rating from the ESRB and submit it along with the content. If the DLC rating is higher than the core game, the core game rating must be increased to match. If lower, the core game requires no additional action. If the game add-on content is optional and the additional content differs from the rating or content descriptors previously assigned to the base product (i.e., a more restrictive rating category and/or different content descriptors), then the new rating information must be communicated to consumers in a location where it will be accurately associated with the downloadable content and cannot be bypassedRatings process for code to content (C2C) cards
If the game will be sold (in any capacity) at brick and mortar stores, the publisher is required to obtain a ratings certificate from the ESRB. Contact your Microsoft representative for details.Requirements for music game add-ons
The ESRB has stipulated that game add-ons for music games must contain the following text to ensure that users have the proper informed experience:- English: (Online Music Not Rated by the ESRB)
- French: (Musique en ligne non classée par l’ESRB)
- Spanish: (Música en línea sin clasificación por parte de la ESRB)
Restrictions for game trailers
The ESRB considers trailers to be advertising material. Therefore, the following rule from the ESRB Advertising Review Council Manual applies to trailers:No advertisement should contain any content that is likely to cause serious or widespread offense to the average consumer.For example: An advertisement should not contain any graphic or extreme content that is likely to offend a reasonable parent or consumer (graphic blood, nudity, etc.). Advertisers should also consider that scenes spread over the course of a lengthy video game product can appear more intense when condensed into a 30-second TV spot or two-minute trailer, or when taken out of its original context. When submitting trailers that feature gameplay footage, publishers should use discretion with respect to the nature of the trailer’s content. Trailers that have excessive violence or blood and gore might be rejected regardless of whether or not they are consistent with the overall title. For example, trailers that have been cited by the ESRB as excessively violent included footage of characters being killed by head-shots and chainsaws. If the ESRB requests that content be removed from the XBOX Store, Business Operations will notify the publisher immediately but might remove the trailer from the XBOX Store before receiving a new trailer from the publisher.
Rating requirements for demos and betas
For a demo/beta to be ESRB-compliant, it must display the appropriate ESRB Rating Pending logo and/or Rating Pending Notice at a 50% vertical height for four seconds prior to the beginning of the demo. Note Demos/betas with the ESRB logo can be released in only the US and Canada because those are the only regions to which the ESRB ratings apply. Note Exception for playable demos and betas (including demos that unlock into full games): Rating information is not required to be displayed on-screen ONLY IF the complete rating information (that is, rating category and, if assigned, content descriptors and the Online Rating Notice) is clearly displayed on the webpage or digital storefront and is visible to the user before the user accesses or downloads the demo.Enforcement and fines
ESRB provides regular reviews of XBOX Store content to ensure compliance with their rating requirements. Microsoft may remove content that has been reported as non-compliant.Rating certificate expirations
Please note that the ESRB may require a title to be re-rated 10 years after the original certificate was issued if there are continued updates to a game. Examples include when the title releases a major update, expands to a new platform, or releases a new bundle offer. The 10-year limit on ratings only applies to games that were rated after April 1, 2018, when this policy was implemented.Europe (PEGI)
Authority: Pan European Game Information Official Regions: Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, the Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine and the United Kingdom. (Source) Website: https://pegi.info/ Game Ratings Search: https://pegi.info/search-pegi Contact Info: https://pegi.info/page/contact-usUnofficial PEGI regions
Beyond the official regions, PEGI is also used by countries/regions such as Georgia, India, Liechtenstein and Türkiye.Enforcement and fines
Penalties are usually only enforced for persistent violations.PEGI:!
In addition to the numerical PEGI ratings, you will also see the “Parental Guidance Recommended” rating for some non-game apps, introduced by PEGI for storefronts that use IARC. These apps can offer a broad variety of user generated or curated content. For the purposes of parental controls, this rating is set to 12 years and older.Rating certificate expirations
Please note that PEGI may require a title to be re-rated 10 years after the original certificate was issued if there are continued updates to a game. Examples include when the title releases a major update, expands to a new platform, or releases a new bundle offer.PEGI Provisional
PEGI Provisional can be used for unrated games that will acquire a long-form PEGI rating for the full release, and that aren’t using the IARC system to generate a PEGI rating. Note that content descriptors can optionally be added when selecting a PEGI Provisional rating in Partner Center, but are not required. The PEGI Provisional rating must be replaced by the final long-form PEGI rating once it has been acquired. Please reach out to PEGI directly for additional guidance and support on PEGI Provisional ratings.New PEGI Rating Criteria (2026)
As of June 2026, PEGI has introduced the following new age rating criteria to address online interactive risks:- Purchases of in-game content: Games with time-limited or quantity-limited offers will be classified with a PEGI 12. Games with NFTs or blockchain-related mechanisms will be PEGI 18.
- Paid random items: the default rating will be PEGI 16 if the game contains paid random items (and in some cases they can be a PEGI 18).
- Play-by-appointment: mechanisms that reward returning to the game (e.g. daily quests) will get a PEGI 7. If these mechanisms punish players for not returning (e.g. by losing content or reducing progress) they will become PEGI 12.
- Safe online gameplay: if games contain entirely unrestricted communication features (e.g. no blocking or reporting), they will be PEGI 18.
Australia (ACB)
Authority: Australian Classification Board (formerly COB) Website: https://www.classification.gov.au/ Game Ratings Search: https://www.classification.gov.au/classification-ratings Contact Info: https://www.classification.gov.au/contact-us/contact-us-form
Games released in Australia must be classified before being made available.
Approved tool certificates
The ACB now accept rating decisions by approved tools such as IARC as a valid classification for both digital and physical game releases. Note that this is only applicable in Australia. If a classification decision has not yet been made by IARC, then applicants do have the option to submit to the Classification Board. If the game has been previously classified by IARC, the developer needs to apply for a tool certificate from the board, which should be uploaded to Microsoft Partner Center as a manual rating. If the game has had major modifications, it would then also require a new classification decision.Classification decisions
Only one Australian classification decision is needed for a computer game:- If the IARC decision comes first, it applies to all content (physical and digital) and the developer should apply for a certificate from the Board for the physical release. The tool decision that is published is taken to be final and a decision of the Board, but as with any decision made by a classification tool, the Board can use its discretion to review (and revoke) a tool decision at any time.
- If the ACB decision comes first, it applies and should be used for both digital and physical releases. IARC decisions made AFTER a Board decision and which vary from the Board’s classification or consumer advice, will be changed to the Board’s classification.
- If the physical game differs substantially from the originally classified digital version, the developer needs to get the modified version of the game classified.
Brazil (DJCTQ)
Authority: Department of Justice, Rating, Titles and Qualification (also known as Classificação Indicativa, abbreviated ClassInd) Website: https://www.gov.br/mj/pt-br/assuntos/seus-direitos/classificacao-1 Game Ratings Search: https://classindportal.mj.gov.br/consulta-jogos Contact Info: classificacaoindicativa@mj.gov.brRatings process and verification
Note Within the DJCTQ certificate, “Classificação Sugerida” is understood as the suggested classification which is the assigned final rating. “Classificação Pretendida” is the desired classification and is not the official assigned rating. The rating is only valid to the platform it was submitted to the DJCTQ, however if you need to add a platform to the game (with no modifications), you can contact DJCTQ and they will update the information about the platforms on their website at no cost. More specifically, you can add as many platforms as you wish on the initial submission.DJCTQ 6 Rating
In 2026, DJCTQ added a ‘6’ age rating to its existing ratings. This change applies to both long-form ratings and ratings assigned via IARC.Loot boxes
Due to new regulations in Brazil, as of 2026, games supporting in-game purchases which include random items (loot boxes, card packs) are now required to be rated 18.Chile (CCC)
Authority: Consejo de Calificación Cinematográfica More Info: https://www.bcn.cl/portal/leyfacil/recurso/calificacion-de-videojuegos
The Cinematographic Qualification Council, which maintains its function of qualifying the films that are exhibited in Chile. The qualification consists of reviewing the video games and determining the age of those who can buy or lease them.
What are the criteria for qualifying video games?
The following categories are established:
- Video game especially recommended for children and adolescents: for containing educational material and no element inappropriate for their age.
- Video game without objectionable content: which can be seen by people of any age.
- Video game not recommended for children under 8 years: for containing a lower percentage of inappropriate language, sexual advances or violence.
- Video game not recommended for children under 14 years: for containing a moderate percentage of inappropriate language, sexual advances or violence.
- Video game not recommended for children under 18: for containing a significant percentage of vulgar language, explicit sexual material, frequent nudity or significant levels of violence.
China (CADPA), Hong Kong SAR and Macao SAR
Rating Authority: China Audio-Video and Digital Publishing Association (CADPA) There is currently no mandatory legal requirement for video game ratings in China. The China Audio-Video and Digital Publishing Association (CADPA), a government-backed industry group, revealed a pilot content rating system in December 2020 called the Online Game Age-Appropriateness Warning system. The industry standard issued by CADPA divides games into three age categories: eight, 12 and 16 and older, represented by green, blue and yellow labels respectively. However, this standard is not a mandatory legal requirement. The XBOX digital store displays generic IARC as there is no other official rating system to use. Releasing games in China The Chinese government has a tailor-made process that publishers must follow to legally enter the market. That includes non-Chinese companies partnering with a Chinese-owned partner. The Ministry of Culture (MOC) and General Administration of Press and Publication (GAPP) are no longer handling game censorship review for China. The Chinese government has assigned the Central Bureau of Communications and Propaganda to handle game reviews. Hong Kong SAR and Macao SAR Hong Kong SAR and Macao SAR don’t have a game classification system. However, games that aren’t suitable for minors must include warnings. There are no specific legal provisions, registrations, or licenses required to operate and release mobile games and online computer games in Hong Kong SAR. Any items that appear in the game are subject to ‘obscene and indecent item control regulations’.Germany (USK)
Authority: Unterhaltungssoftware Selbstkontrolle (Entertainment Software Self-Regulation) Website: https://usk.de/en/ Game Ratings Search: https://usk.de/en/?s&jump=usktitle&post_type=usktitle Contact Info: https://usk.de/en/contact/Ratings verification
Games are rated by the USK if they are distributed on a disc. If a game is digital-only, IARC is used to generate a USK rating for Microsoft online storefronts.USK requirements
Requirements for content in Germany fall into two categories: playable and non-playable. Playable content includes full game titles and demos. Playable content falls into three ratings states: rated, rating pending, and rating denied.Rated playable content
If playable content has received a rating from the USK, the game and associated content can be released to the XBOX Store for the respective age group.- For titles that received a rating for the full version, this rating can be applied to the demo version with similar content. The demo does not need to have a separate rating.
- For titles that have been modified for the German market to receive an age rating, the demo needs to have the identical modifications (that is, similar content) or requires a separate rating.
- For demo versions with a lower age rating than the final product, the lower age rating also applies to demos provided on the XBOX Store.
XBOX Series X|S
For XBOX Series hardware, the USK has advised that the following scenarios are the only cases where an XBOX Series rating is required:- A new product for only the XBOX Series (standard procedure)
- A new product with both XBOX One and XBOX Series on the disc (standard procedure)
- An old product, with an existing XBOX One rating, that now gets an XBOX Series retail release (statement procedure)
Rating-denied playable content
If playable content has been denied a rating from the USK, the playable content and all associated content (including trailers, demos, and videos) cannot be released in Germany.Rating-pending playable content
If playable content has not been rated by the USK, some non-playable content offers can be released. This includes trailers, demos, videos, and game add-ons. If non-playable content is released in Germany and the associated playable content is later denied a rating, the non-playable content, except game add-ons, will immediately be pulled from the German XBOX Store and will not be re-released unless the denial is changed. On a rating-pending title, the publisher must inform Microsoft immediately if a rating is denied.- On rating-pending titles that are overtly likely to get a “rating denied,” Microsoft reserves the right to delay the release of non-playable content until there is an appropriate age rating.
Enforcement and fines
German laws for the protection of youth carry severe penalties for distributing inappropriate content to minors or for promoting inappropriate content altogether. Infringements can constitute criminal offenses or trigger administrative fines.Indonesia (IGRS)
Authority: Indonesia Game Rating System Website: https://igrs.id/ Contact Info: https://igrs.id/contact-us
In 2026, IGRS was established and joined IARC. The Indonesia Game Rating System (IGRS) implements a game classification process that aims to determine the appropriate age rating for every game to be released in Indonesia. This process is designed to ensure that every game available is appropriate for the age and cultural values of Indonesian society, as well as to provide clear guidance for users, especially parents, in choosing games that are safe for children to play.
Digital-only products releasing on Microsoft storefronts will be assigned an IGRS rating by completing the IARC questionnaire.
[!NOTE] The Microsoft Store continues to display the generic IARC rating in Indonesia because IGRS integration with IARC is currently on hold.
Ireland (IFCO)
Authority: Irish Film Classification Office Website: https://www.ifco.ie/ Contact Info: info@ifco.gov.ieRating verification
Games that are rated PEGI 18 and are being released physically in Ireland, must be submitted to IFCO for legal classification 3-4 weeks prior to release. Application forms to legally classify a game prior to release in Ireland can be obtained from the IFCO website: www.ifco.ie. If IFCO approves the game, the Games Rating Authority (GRA) will update the game’s existing PEGI license with the Ireland rating. This update removes the question mark next to the Ireland region in the Age Ratings section of the license and adds Ireland to the list of covered countries/regions. IFCO does not use bespoke classification symbols, instead the use of PEGI rating logos and descriptors should be used for all game packaging. If IFCO does not approve the game, the game is effectively banned in Ireland. IFCO only classifies games rated PEGI 18 which are releasing on disc in Ireland. Submission to IFCO is not required for digital-only games, games which are rated below PEGI 18, or code-to-content (C2C) cards. Please note that IFCO is not a supported rating authority in Partner Center. Disc ratings for games releasing in Ireland rely on the disc’s PEGI rating.Japan (CERO)
Authority: Computer Entertainment Rating Organisation Website: https://www.cero.gr.jp/en/ Game Ratings Search: http://www.cero.biz/search/ Contact Info (Note that CERO only supports queries in Japanese): https://www.cero.gr.jp/en/publics/index/5/Restriction for in-game content that is rated higher than the base game
Although the XBOX Store can now support in-game content that exceeds the rating of the base game, it is illegal to distribute such content to Japan. If you plan to create content that has a higher than the base game, please ensure that it will not be distributed to Japan.Regarding CERO Z trailers and demos
The Microsoft Store does not allow CERO Z or IARC 18+ rated content to be distributed within Japan as part of a trailer or demo, even if the content is in line with the base game. This restriction is similar to the ESRB restriction regarding excessively violent content. Please ensure that you are not including Japan in the distribution regions for such content.IARC for digital-only releases to Japan
IARC ratings are accepted for digital-only releases to Japan, including for games rated IARC 18+. The same restriction for CERO Z titles applies to digital IARC 18+ titles, however, in that trailers and demos based on these titles will not be released on the Microsoft Store. CERO ratings are still required for disc releases. Note that IARC 18+ games which are Free To Play are NOT allowed on the Japanese Microsoft Store.Enforcement and fines
CERO conducts disciplinary meetings and levies fines for every violation.Mexico (SMECCV)
Authority: Sistema Mexicano de Equivalencias de Clasificación de los Contenidos de Videojuegos (Mexican System of Equivalences of Classification of Video Game Contents) More Info: https://www.dof.gob.mx/nota_detalle.php?codigo=5606047
The Mexican Video Game Content Mapping Rating System applies only to packaged retail product and not digital storefronts. The video game rating regulations were published by the Ministry of Interior on Nov 27, 2020, and require that physical copies of games are labelled under the plastic wrapping of the game package with the new Mexican rating icons from August 2021.
Mexico use a rating equivalency system that maps a SMECCV rating to an ESRB rating, although the respective age thresholds do not match in all cases. SMECCV content descriptors and interactive elements are an exact mapping of the ESRB (Spanish) equivalent. Label dimensions are also equivalent. Age rating certificates will not be issued by SMECCV, publishers should continue to upload ESRB age rating certificates to Partner Center.
Note that displaying both an ESRB rating and a SMECCV rating on packaging is prohibited.
New Zealand (OFLC)
Authority: Office of Film and Literature Classification (formerly FVLB, Film and Video Labelling Body) Website: https://www.classificationoffice.govt.nz/ Game Ratings Search: https://www.classificationoffice.govt.nz/find-a-rating/ Contact Info: https://www.classificationoffice.govt.nz/about/contact/Physical games
All restricted games must carry a New Zealand classification label. The OFLC website states that any game that meets any of the conditions below must be submitted for classification and carry a New Zealand rating label:- The game is restricted in Australia (classified as MA15+ or R18+)
- The game has been refused classification (banned) in Australia or the UK
- The game has been classified as 15, 18, or R18 in the UK*
- The game has restricted content under New Zealand law
Digital-only games
Digital-only releases to New Zealand will usually inherit the ACB rating assigned via IARC. In cases where the game has been refused classification in Australia, a generic IARC rating will display for New Zealand on our digital store.Russia (PCBP)
Authority: Российская Система Возрастных Рейтингов (RARS, Russian Age Rating System) More Info: https://rg.ru/2012/07/30/zakon-dok.html
RARS is used for all types of media (films, TV, video games, music, etc.) released in the Russian Federation. RARS is a self-rating system which relies on publishers rating their own content; this means there is no Russian ratings board. It is acceptable for publishers to self-rate for Russia, based on government guidance and/or their PEGI rating. Whilst a rating certificate is not required, it is a legal requirement in Russia that either a PCBP rating icon or PEGI rating icon is displayed on the packaging. Official government companies may perform retrospective checks to protect consumers and their legal rights and react to any complaints.
Saudi Arabia (Gmedia)
Authority: General Authority of Media Regulation (Also known as GAMR, formerly GCAM - General Commission for Audiovisual Media) Website: https://gmedia.gov.sa/en Contact Info: https://gmedia.gov.sa/en/contact-usGmedia and IARC
In 2026, Gmedia joined IARC. This means that Gmedia ratings for digital-only products on Microsoft storefronts will now be generated by taking the IARC questionnaire.Gmedia Ratings on Boxed Products
- All new-to-market, boxed, disc-based games releasing into Saudi Arabia will be required to show the Gmedia rating on the front of the packaging as part of the outer wrap artwork.
- The Gmedia rating is the only rating to be shown on the box in Saudi Arabia. Displaying other rating logos (for example ESRB or PEGI) is not allowed.
- Console bundles will now use a sticker Gmedia rating when shipped into Saudi Arabia.
- If a console is sold by itself, with no bundled game content, there is no need for an age rating icon. However, if the box displays other, non-Gmedia age rating icons, it is considered a violation.
- The Gmedia rating should also be used for any in-store point of sale materials.
- When releasing to Saudi Arabia on disc, a Gmedia rating certificate is required to provide at the time of certification submission.
Gmedia 21 Rating
In 2025, Gmedia added a 21 rating to its existing rating system.Singapore (IMDA)
Rating Authority: Infocomm Media Development Authority Website: https://imdaonline.imda.gov.sg/classification/ Game Rating Search: https://imdaonline.imda.gov.sg/classification/Search/VideoGames/Default.aspx Contact Info: https://www.imda.gov.sg/Who-We-Are/contact-us More Info: https://www.imda.gov.sg/regulations-and-licensing-listing/content-standards-and-classification/standards-and-classification/video-games
The Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) is a statutory board of the Singapore government, under the Ministry of Communications and Information. Founded in 2016, the IMDA regulates infocomm and media sectors and is the Singaporean video game rating authority. The Video Games Classification system is made up of the Advisory 16 (Suitable for 16 and Above) and M18 ratings.
Submission requirements
The standard submission process applies to all FPP (Full Packaged Product) releases. IMDA requires the ESRB submission form and game video to be submitted if the PEGI rating is 16 or 18. C2C cards are not considered an FPP release and do not require age ratings submission.
New game content and DLC requirements
A separate submission is required for new content except for DLC content which won’t impact the rating level.
Additional platforms requirements
Separate submission is required if a new platform is added later.
Packaging requirements
IMDA reviews all titles across the full age range, but only require over-stickering on boxed product for games rated ADV16 (Advisory 16) or M18 (Mature 18). This means that for titles lower than 16, there is no strict deadline to get the rating as it is not needed for certification or packaging. For ratings lower than ADV16, the boxed copy would not be over-stickered and would instead show an ESRB or PEGI rating.
Singapore ratings are displayed as IARC generic on Microsoft online storefronts.
South Africa (FPB)
Rating Authority: Film and Publication Board Website: https://www.fpb.org.za/ Contact Info: https://www.fpb.org.za/contact/
An FPB rating is required for all physical releases sold in South Africa, including C2C cards, and must be displayed on the packaging. For digital releases, a PEGI certificate is also acceptable to be uploaded in Partner Center for South Africa as the console will default to PEGI if the FPB isn’t present.
South Korea (GRAC)
Authorities: Game Rating Administration Committee (formerly GRB, Game Rating Board) and Game Content Rating Board (GCRB) Websites: https://www.grac.or.kr/english/ and https://www.gcrb.or.kr/English/default.aspx Game Ratings Search: https://www.grac.or.kr/english/ Contact Info: rc.globalratings@grac.or.kr More info: http://www.grac.or.kr/english/enforcement/enforcement.aspx
GCRB rates content at and below 19+, GRAC rates only 19+ content. Before January 2026, GCRB was limited to rating only games below 19+, but they have since expanded to also rating 19+ titles alongside GRAC. GRAC is the term used most commonly to refer to the South Korean age rating authority.
[!IMPORTANT] On January 9, 2024, the Enforcement Decree of the Game Act in Korea was revised, changing the rating of games not suitable for use by minors from 18 to 19. GRAC instructed digital storefronts to display the new 19 rating, instead of the previous GRAC 18 rating, for all applicable content. Furthermore, GRAC require that all new restricted packaged product in Korea must carry the 19 rating. However, in accordance with the supplementary provisions of the revised Enforcement Decree, existing 18-rated game products produced and distributed by January 8, 2024 may be marked with 18 or 19 until June 30, 2024.
Certificate Requirements
A rating certificate is required at the time of certification submission when being distributed via disc. Digital-only content may obtain a rating via IARC, unless rated as 19 which then requires it to be rated by GRAC. When releasing a game on multiple XBOX platforms (XBOX One, XBOX Series X|S, Windows), one rating certificate is sufficient for all platforms, provided content remains the same on all platforms. When releasing a game on multiple business platforms (XBOX, PlayStation, Switch), a “Platform Addition” certificate must be obtained from GRAC for each additional platform after obtaining the rating certificate for the primary platform. For IARC-rated digital-only games releasing on multiple platforms, the existing certificate can be imported by using the IARC ID.Age Validation and I-PIN
Since December 2012, all XBOX users in Korea are required to validate their age using I-PIN, or an equivalent age verification system. This is part of the profile setup process in Korea and is a requirement for accessing the XBOX network, formerly known as XBOX Live.19+ IARC-generated GRAC ratings
If the IARC-generated GRAC rating is 19+ the title will be automatically blocked from the XBOX Store in Korea until a traditional GRAC certificate is obtained and uploaded. For pre-orders, the “Rating Pending” option may be selected to enable sales in Korea, but only if there is intention to obtain a traditional GRAC rating for release.Requirement for in-game content rated higher than the base game
If any in-game content offer exceeds the rating of the base game, the publisher is required to obtain a rating specific to that content offer.Enforcement and fines
Fines can be levied up to a maximum of KRW 20,000,000 or penal servitude of two years per violation.Preorders
GRAC does not require that a rating is in place to enable pre-orders, even for mature titles, and does not offer a ‘Rating Pending’ option within their rating system. If the product is expected to get traditional GRAC ratings for any reason including:- Will be sold on physical media
- IARC did not generate GRAC ratings
GRAC audits
GRAC perform regular audits on the ratings of digital games. Games with IARC ratings flagged by GRAC as having inaccurate ratings may be temporarily withdrawn from the South Korean market until the IARC questionnaire is updated. In these instances, Microsoft will issue a store report notifying the account contact.Guideline on the disclosure of probability information
The Enforcement Decree of the Act on the Promotion of the Game Industry of the Republic of Korea requires that games that offer “probabilistic items” must disclose the probability of obtaining items and adhere to the “Guideline on the Disclosure of Probability Information” available on the GRAC website.Taiwan (DGSC)
Authority: Digital Games Self-regulation Committee (Also known as TCA - Taipei Computer Association, TESRI - Taiwan Entertainment Software Rating Information, GSRR - Game Software Rating Regulation, and CSRR - Computer Software Rating Regulation) Website: https://www.gamerating.org.tw/ Game Rating Search: https://www.gamerating.org.tw/Search/Game Contact Info: gameservice@gamerating.org.tw
DGSC ratings are mandatory for all titles and content released in Taiwan, both retail and digital products must display DGSC ratings. On Microsoft digital store DGSC ratings are generated via IARC. Note that content descriptors and disclaimers for DGSC are now required.
All games are self-rated; that is, publishers are solely responsible for determining which ratings apply to their titles. Taiwan regulations require that the game rating and content descriptors are registered on the government website - this is a publisher responsibility. For physical distribution in Taiwan, publishers are advised to contact a local agent who charge per title.
United Arab Emirates (NMA)
Authority: National Media Authority (formerly UAEMC - UAE Media Council, MRO - Media Regulatory Office, NMC - National Media Council) Website: https://nma.gov.ae/ Contact Info: https://nma.gov.ae/en/contact-us
In January 2026, the board updated its name from the UAE Media Council to the National Media Authority.
The UAE Media Council was established in February 2023 by a Federal Decree Law. The UAE Media Council aims to coordinate media efforts at the federal and local levels in coordination with government media entities in the country/region and align media policies to preserves UAE national identity.
All games released in a physical format in the UAE, including C2C (code to content) cards, must be rated by the NMA. All boxed products require the NMA rating printed on the box. Digital ONLY releases do not require a NMA rating and on our Store generic IARC ratings are displayed.
Timelines
The time taken for each ratings authority to issue a ratings certification varies. You must have all age ratings before you submit for certification. Use the following guidelines for estimated submission times for each ratings authority.Global ratings display reference
Generic IARC ratings are used for the regions supported by the Microsoft Store that are not listed in the table above.