Video game publishers face stricter norms to curb sensitive content

BIS move aims to protect young users from sensitive content

Video and digital games published in India will now be required to carry a “socially sensitive themes” label if they include content related to social discrimination, race, religious symbols, deities, or caste. The label will also have to be carried on games that depict nationality, gender, and physical and mental disability, and can potentially hurt the sentiments of domestic communities. This is part of the labelling requirements mandated by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) for video and digital games.

 

Other labels to be carried include violence, vulgar language, nudity, substance abuse, and gambling, depending on the game’s content. Besides this, an age rating has to be mentioned by these companies on their products.

 

“By establishing these standards, we aim to promote a safer and more transparent gaming environment, which protects younger audiences from potentially inappropriate content while balancing the creative freedom of game studios,” said the standards agency, which functions under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.

 

The BIS requirement for these labels is likely to create an additional compliance burden for global social and video gaming companies looking to enter India, according to industry executives. “Most global gaming companies follow the IARC (International Age Rating Coalition) norms for age ratings and content labelling of their games. Once they obtain the IARC approval, there is a general understanding that such games can be distributed globally. The new BIS norms are very different,” a gaming company executive said, requesting not to be named.

 

Though India has banned all forms of real-money games, the BIS has mandated that video and digital games that have content that promotes or glorifies betting or gambling activities should carry the “gambling” label. Apart from labels for socially sensitive themes, games published and distributed in the country will also have to explicitly mention and prominently display on their packaging an “in-game purchases” label if they offer users the option to buy virtual goods, services, or benefits while playing.

 

The BIS has also mandated different age ratings for these games based on their content. For example, digital and video games that are suitable for children up to three years should not contain any bad language or harmful visuals, while those for children between three and seven years “may contain cartoon, fantasy, a very mild form of violence or mild language”, with the appropriate universal/adult (U/A) age rating depicted clearly.

 

Video and digital games made for children ages 7-13 may contain mild violence, provided they have appropriate age ratings. Games for children ages 16-18 will be allowed to contain intense violence, blood, gore, sexual content, simulated gambling, or very strong and abusive language, provided they have the appropriate labelling.