PEGI rates EA FC 16+ over loot boxes hitting $5.5bn revenue stream
A sweeping rule change by European games regulators will force the blockbuster EA FC series to carry a 16+ age rating, spotlighting a lucrative loot box mechanism that drives billions in revenue for publisher Electronic Arts.
The Pan-European Game Information body (PEGI) has confirmed the latest instalment of EA FC will carry a 16+ age rating, abandoning its long-standing 3+ classification. The change follows an overhaul of the rating system used across 38 countries, including the UK, which now factors online purchasing mechanisms into its age assessments.
The reclassification targets the game's Ultimate Team mode, where players buy virtual card packs containing random footballers. Under the new PEGI framework, any title featuring "paid random items"—commonly known as loot boxes—automatically receives a 16+ label. Previously, ratings were determined solely by a game's base content rather than its interactive online features.
For Electronic Arts, the financial stakes of this regulatory shift are immense. The publisher's latest financial report shows Ultimate Team is responsible for a "substantial portion" of the $5.5bn the company generates annually from add-on content. The mode allows users to spend real money to acquire players, though EA insists participation is possible without financial transactions.
Critics have long compared the randomised pack purchases to gambling, with research suggesting they "blurred the lines" between gaming and betting. The UK government notably declined to bring loot boxes under the Gambling Act 2005, arguing there was no evidence of a "causative link" to direct harm. PEGI's move effectively sidesteps that legislative debate by using age gates instead of gambling law.
The rating change arrives at a sensitive time for the publisher. Electronic Arts is currently in the process of being acquired for $55bn by a group of investors led by Saudi Arabia. The deal places a spotlight on the sustainability of EA's lucrative add-on revenue streams just as regulators across Europe tighten consumer protections.
While a 16+ PEGI rating restricts physical shop sales to underage customers, the vast majority of video game purchases now occur digitally. EA FC automatically restricts in-game purchases for accounts belonging to players under 13, meaning ultimate enforcement will fall to parents. UKIE, the trade body for the British games industry, said: "The rating system is kept under regular review to reflect how games and their features evolve, and this update means parents can be confident the same protections apply here as with any other game carrying that rating."
EA FC 27 is expected to launch around September, featuring a new open-world area called "The Grounds" and a premium "Ultimate Plus Edition" priced at £139.99.
