News
FTC denies facial age estimation as verification tactic
ESRB, SuperAwesome, and Yoti joint application to OK the technology under COPPA laws is denied for now, may be re-filed at a later date
ESRB
Feature
ESRB wants to make it easier to harvest kids' personal data | This Week in Business
Ratings board teams up with SuperAwesome and Yoti to get approval for a lower-friction way for parents to approve collection of children's info
News
ESRB asks FTC to approve facial estimation age checker
The proposal claims the technology is more reliable than other methods of parent verification
Stub
ESRB launches Spanish-language hub
"¡Vamos a Jugar!" (let's play) to offer guides to parental controls, age ratings and more for Spanish-speaking parents and guardians
News
ESRB intros new label for loot boxes
"In-Game Purchases (Includes Random Items)" designation created in response to concerns of players, not parents
News
ESRB dropping short form ratings for digital games in June
Developers will still be able to get rated at no cost via IARC
Opinion
Hooked on loot boxes
The industry's push for engagement at all costs is ready to backfire as it misunderstands the concern over a controversial mechanic
News
ESRB responds to loot box controversy with in-game purchase label
Rating board to add new indicator on physical games when players can spend money from within the game
News
Senator calls on ESRB to re-consider loot boxes
New Hampshire Democrat Maggie Hassan says "at minimum" the ratings system should note when games employ the contentious business model
News
Loot boxes aren't gambling - ESRB
UPDATE: European ratings board PEGI says it's gambling commissions responsibilities to define loot box rules
News
Anti-tobacco group takes games to task
Truth Initiative calls for tobacco use to trigger an automatic M rating from ESRB and for devs to stop featuring it in games kids play
Opinion
Why is the Grand Theft Auto CEO also chairman of the ESRB?
Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick's role undermines the perceived independence crucial to the US ratings board's legitimacy
Feature
The ESRB: Twenty Years of Sex and Violence
President Patricia Vance on rating board's first two decades, Hot Coffee as a highlight, and the challenges ahead
News
ESRB expands mobile app privacy program
Rating board rolls out new seal of approval for mobile offerings that comply with privacy best practices
News
Wartune advertising runs afoul of ESRB
Free-to-play online game uses Adults Only rating as selling point, even though it's never been rated at all
News
Game retailers most effective at carding minors
FTC secret shopper report says it's still harder for US minors to buy M-rated games than R-rated movies or explicit music
News
ESRB relaxes age gate rules
US rating board now allows clean trailers for M-rated games to be viewed without entering birthdate
News
ESRB: We help "protect creative freedom"
Patricia Vance talks about fighting the image of being a "censor" and outlines the benefits of ESRB's new automatic rating tool
News
ESRB awareness may be maxed out
Ratings system to continue outreach and education efforts despite plateaued 85% awareness among parents
News
ESRB rolls out no-cost ratings for downloadable games
Questionnaire-based assessments of digitally distributed titles also include online privacy descriptors
News
Verizon integrates ESRB ratings into Verizon Apps store
The CTIA mobile rating system helps parents choose the right apps
News
US parents want universal ratings says study
Current certification system for games and media confusing and inaccurate
News
FTC study shows improvement in ESRB enforcement
US secret shopper program reveals 13% of children able to buy M-rated games
News
ESRB age ratings to be automated online
New digital questionnaire to help U.S. age rating board with online titles