Epic Games Lifts Ban on “Adults Only” Rated Games

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Epic Games Lifts Ban on “Adults Only” Rated Games
  • The Epic Games Store opened doors to blockchain and Web3 games.
  • This follows an update to its content policy where games with an “Adults Only” rating are restricted on the platform.
  • Restrictions on AO-rated games due to nudity and violence will remain in place.

The Epic Games Store recently opened doors to blockchain and Web3 games. This comes after the video game distribution service reportedly made changes to its listing policy, allowing some blockchain games to be relisted.

As per reports from the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB), some blockchain games will be receiving the “Adults Only” (AO) rating, for games containing non-fungible tokens (NFT) and blockchain elements.

Earlier the platform had implemented a strict ban on games with AO ratings, often for containing explicit content such as excessive nudity or violence. However, an exception has been made via a new update to the platform’s content policies for games containing blockchain and NFT technology. 

In a statement to The Verge, Epic Games spokesperson Brian Sharon says, 

Some blockchain-based games are receiving Adults Only (AO) ratings from industry ratings bodies for their particular implementation of blockchain… We’ve updated our Epic Games Store content policy to allow for games that are rated AO solely due to the usage of blockchain or NFT technology.

In a post on X, The Epic Games Store also announced that some games such as Gods Unchained and Striker Manager 3 returned to the Store post changes to the content policy. The Gods Unchained team expressed their pleasure with the policy decision, stating that the policy reflects the experience of Web3 gaming, bringing them closer to adoption. 

The “Adults Only” rating is seemingly the highest form of restrictive rating, as per the ESRB’s “Rating Categories.” The rating is for content suitable for individuals aged 18 and upwards. The ESRB states that this rating is due to content that contains “prolonged scenes of intense violence, graphic sexual content, and/or gambling with real currency.” 

While The Epic Games’ ban on blockchain and NFT games has been lifted, games with explicit content remain in place. 

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