For the first time in the history of EA SPORTS’ football simulation, a part will only be released in Germany from the age of 12. Lootboxes, “pressure to act” and “chats” were three major reasons for the USK’s adjustment.
While FIFA 23 was still approved by the Entertainment Software Self-Regulation Body (USK) for players aged zero, this is changing with EA SPORTS FC 24, because it has been announced that the USK has given the game an age rating of 12 – for the first time in the history of FIFA and EA SPORTS FC. Reasons for this are “pressure to act”, “in-game purchases and random objects” as well as “chats”.
The first refers to time-limited “offers” that are available in FIFA Ultimate Team in the form of Lightning Rounds or Squad Building Challenges (SBC). The second, i.e. in-game purchases, includes the Lootboxes. In addition, the USK takes into account possible chats, which can harbour fundamental risks with cyberbullying or threats. The fact that this adjustment of the age rating is only now being made is due to the reformed USK statutes, which have been in effect since the beginning of the year and now provide for so-called usage risks.
EA SPORTS has meanwhile also confirmed the new rating and told “Gameswirtschaft”: “Although there have been no significant changes to our game mechanics, Madden NFL and EA SPORTS FC have received higher age ratings and new descriptors in Germany this year because local legislation has set new rules for the USK rating process.” He said the company wanted to support all measures to “choose the right computer and video games for their families.”
Austrian court declared loot boxes illegal
The packs in FIFA Ultimate Team in particular have come under massive criticism year after year. Most recently, an Austrian court declared such lootboxes illegal. As a result, the PlayStation manufacturer Sony had to pay back 338.26 euros to one of the plaintiffs, as the payment process had taken place via the PSN store. “A drumbeat for the entire video game industry,” commented the managing director of the litigation financier Padronus, Richard Eibl, on the judgement at the time.
Lawyer Dr Oliver Daum also said in an interview with eSport at the time that this ruling was “a wake-up call for the game providers”. However, it is unclear whether potential imitators in Germany would be successful with their lawsuit. That would depend on whether the Austrian argumentation could “also be applied to the German legal system”. In EA SPORTS FC 24, the topic of lootboxes has come up again – even before the game’s release.
