PEGI discusses, "sensationalist stories and pointing fingers" after GTA 5 age criticsm

Grand Theft Auto 5 was snapped in the hands of an under-age kid last week, prompting the usual wave of tabloid witch-hunting and claims that age-rating body PEGI wasn't doing enough to safeguard the nation's youth. The group has now responded.

Speaking with MCV, PEGI’s Dirk Bosmans said on the matter "The industry organises campaigns on a regular basis to inform as many consumers as possible. Every single bit of marketing should carry a PEGI label. So each time the game is marketed on the side of a bus, on TV, or in magazines, you will see the PEGI label.

“Parents who take a sincere interest in what their kids are playing will have found out about PEGI ratings. We cannot force them to do that. Ironically, the only ones not inclined to share information about PEGI, are the tabloids. Lots of sensationalist stories and pointing fingers, but hardly a paragraph on age ratings and the responsibility that parents carry as well.”

UKIE CEO Jo Twist offered a second opinion, "The games industry takes the health and wellbeing of players very seriously. We’re always looking at new ways to raise awareness of PEGI, for example we have an askaboutgames stand at this year’s Eurogamer Expo.”

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