Expanding our commitment to Windows Store games

Today the Windows Store begins accepting games with a rating of PEGI 18.

Windows has long been a favorite platform for games of all types, and age rating support for PEGI 18 is another step forward in a rich tradition of supporting gaming on Windows. We’ve described this support in Certification Requirement 5: Windows apps are appropriate for a global audience, and its subsections. There, we have additional content definitions and describe how the various game ratings organizations relate to the Windows Store age rating.

In welcoming PEGI 18 games into the Store, we again reinforce two principles—flexibility and confidence—fundamental to the Windows Store. We recognize that people have come to expect and appreciate rich gaming experiences on Windows and this includes games rated PEGI 18. We also want to ensure that every customer using the Store can browse and acquire apps with confidence.

Through its integration with Microsoft Family Safety, the Windows Store allows parents to be in control of the kinds of apps their children can install. For this reason, even with the introduction of content intended for a more mature audience, the Store continues to be a safe and positive place for children to explore.

We’re excited to be partnering with game publishers to bring great desktop game titles to Windows 8—including The Witcher, by CD Projekt, and Grand Theft Auto IV, by Take Two—with more games coming soon.

As the Store grows and the opportunity for developers increases we will continue to listen to feedback and review our process to ensure that developers have the tools and guidance necessary to create great games for customers around the world.

Ted Dworkin

Director of Program Management, Windows Store

Comments

• Anonymous
  December 15, 2012
  It is good to see a slight loosening of what is allowed.  However, it is still unclear from the language of the policy of whether 1) apps must still comply to the stated restrictions or 2) these games are specific, case by case exemptions or 3) exemptions are granted only by being rated with the ESRB as M If it is 1) then there are clearly many games that do not comply with those restrictions.  For example, GTA IV already does not comply and Far Cry 3 MUCH more so. If it is 2) or 3) this seems to be quite unfair towards Indie developers. In fact I had raised the same concerns all the way back in March 2012 on the dev forum: social.msdn.microsoft.com/.../961adcc0-2e94-4d55-9568-5e80540253b5 and Casey on molleyrocket.com did later on a couple months as well.  But nothing really changed until big publishers showed interest.  Yet, without those big publishers using their influence, it seems smaller publisher and Indie developers would be out of luck.  It is still unclear whether or not smaller developers could get away the same content. Furthermore, the exemption to those restrictions, however they are granted, seems to be limited to games.  If so, why?  What if for example, a developer were to create a world building app used to create content for a game.  Let's suppose it was a mature content creator for Second Life that would otherwise be in violation of the restrictions since it's not a game per se.

• Anonymous
  December 15, 2012
  The comment has been removed

• Anonymous
  December 15, 2012
  The comment has been removed

• Anonymous
  December 31, 2012
  Windows should implement their own <a href="http://www.gemsparties.com">arcade rentals</a>!! :)