Pan European Game Information
PEGI is the pan-European video game age rating system, founded in 2003 and headquartered in Brussels, classifying games across five age levels for 38+ countries. It serves video game publishers needing standardized compliance, retailers bound by its Retail Code, and parents seeking age-appropriate guidance.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2003
- HeadquartersBrussels, Belgium
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Pan European Game Information does
Pan European Game Information (PEGI) is a Brussels-based, Belgian not-for-profit company (PEGI S.A.) that operates the standardized video game age classification system for Europe. Founded in 2003, PEGI assigns one of five age ratings (PEGI 3, 7, 12, 16, 18) and applies content descriptors covering violence, fear, gambling, drugs, discrimination, in-game purchases, paid random items, horror, and online-interaction risks to video games distributed across 38+ European countries. The system is recognized by EU institutions and national authorities as a model of harmonization in minor protection and consumer transparency.
PEGI's core technology is a classification framework supported by a public ratings database at pegi.info, a mobile app available in 9 languages on Google Play and Apple Store, and integrations with parental control tools across Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, iOS, and Google Play. The PEGI Experts Group performs content classification, the PEGI Complaints Board handles reclassification disputes, and the PEGI Enforcement Committee imposes sanctions up to €500,000 for Code of Conduct violations. In March 2026 PEGI expanded its criteria to include interactive risk categories covering loot boxes (defaulted to PEGI 16), unrestricted communication, and incentive-to-play mechanics, effective June 2026.
Revenue is generated through age rating licensing fees paid by video game publishers and developers, who must sign the PEGI Code of Conduct and submit games for classification before European release. As a not-for-profit, PEGI operates under the governance of Video Games Europe with a Management Board, Council (chaired by Beate Våje), and Director (Dirk Bosmans). PEGI serves three constituencies: parents and guardians using ratings to inform purchase decisions, publishers needing standardized compliance across European markets, and retailers bound by the PEGI Retail Code. Over its 20-year history, more than 2,600 companies have signed the Code of Conduct and nearly 40,000 age rating licenses have been issued.
Pan European Game Information firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Pan European Game Information
- Legal name
- PEGI S.A.
- Website
- https://pegi.info
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2003
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- PEGI is the pan-European video game age rating system, founded in 2003 and headquartered in Brussels, classifying games across five age levels for 38+ countries. It serves video game publishers needing standardized compliance, retailers bound by its Retail Code, and parents seeking age-appropriate guidance.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Pan European Game Information industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Video Game Content Rating Services
- akta.pro primary industry
- Accessibility & Compliance Services (A11y Testing, Ratings, Privacy/Regulatory) (MPAFAKAO)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Publishing Services Providers (Ratings, Compliance, Certification, Release Ops) (MPAFABAL)
Keywords
Where Pan European Game Information is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Brussels
- HQ country
- Belgium
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Pan European Game Information business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Age Rating Licensing Fees: PEGI grants licenses to publishers to use the PEGI Logos and Descriptors on their video game products. Publishers must pay for the classification service and ongoing compliance monitoring.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
Pan European Game Information product offering
Product offeringCore offering
PEGI (Pan European Game Information) operates a unified pan-European age classification system for video games, assigning standardized age ratings (PEGI 3, 7, 12, 16, 18) and content descriptors across 38+ European countries. Video game publishers and developers submit games for classification and license the PEGI logos and descriptors for use on packaging and digital storefronts, governed by a binding PEGI Code of Conduct with enforcement mechanisms including fines up to €500,000.
Product overview
PEGI (Pan European Game Information) operates a unified age rating system for video games used across 38+ European countries. The core offering is the PEGI Age Rating System, which classifies games into five age categories (PEGI 3, 7, 12, 16, 18) and applies content descriptors covering violence, fear, bad language, sex, gambling, drugs, discrimination, in-game purchases, horror, and paid random items. This system is supported by a public website/database, a mobile application (available on Google Play and Apple Store in 9 languages), and the PEGI Code of Conduct that binds publishers to responsible labeling and advertising practices. The organization also provides parental control guidance resources.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- PEGI Age Rating System Pan-European age classification system assigning standardized age ratings (PEGI 3, 7, 12, 16, 18) and content descriptors to video games across 38+ European countries. Used by video game publishers and developers to obtain ratings for their products before distribution.
- PEGI Mobile App Mobile application available on Google Play and Apple Store allowing parents and gamers to search the PEGI database for game ratings and parental control guidance. Available in 9 languages including English, French, Polish, Dutch, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, German, and Swedish.
- PEGI Public Website and Rating Database Public website and online database (pegi.info and rating.pegi.info) that allows users to search for game ratings, view content descriptors, and access parental advice resources. Supports 26+ language translations across European markets.
Quantifiable outcome
- 67% of parents and 73% of players are aware of PEGI age labels
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Pan European Game Information
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Pan European Game Information technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Pan European Game Information partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- USK (Unterhaltungssoftware Selbstkontrolle)corePEGI cooperated closely with USK, the German age rating authority, during development of new interactive risk category criteria. USK had implemented similar changes in 2023 following an update of the German Youth Protection Act. PEGI Director Dirk Bosmans stated: 'It was incredibly useful to learn from the experiences of our colleagues in Germany.' USK Managing Director Elisabeth Secker noted they found themselves 'once again aligned with PEGI' on addressing online interaction risks.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Pan European Game Information competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Common Sense Media: Common Sense Media provides independently produced age and content reviews for video games, films, TV, and other youth-facing media, primarily in the US. It is adjacent in providing consumer-facing rating/review information for parents, though its business model is broader editorial review rather than regulatory classification.
Direct peers
- USK (Unterhaltungssoftware Selbstkontrolle): USK is Germany's independent age-rating body for video games, recognized under the German Youth Protection Act. PEGI partnered closely with USK on the 2026 interactive-risk-criteria expansion. They occupy parallel positions in adjacent jurisdictions.
- ESRB (Entertainment Software Rating Board): ESRB is the North American age and content rating system for video games, serving US, Canada, and Mexico. It is the closest direct counterpart to PEGI in scope, methodology, and industry funding model — both are industry-managed, multi-issuer frameworks for pre-purchase content disclosure.
- GRAC (Game Rating and Administration Committee): GRAC is South Korea's video game rating body, providing mandatory content descriptors and age classifications for the Korean market. It performs the same pre-purchase gatekeeping role for publishers active in Asia that PEGI does for European releases.
- IARC (International Age Rating Coalition): IARC is a coalition of rating authorities that produces region-specific age and content descriptors (including PEGI, USK, ESRB, ClassInd) for digital storefronts. It is a structural peer to PEGI as both are content-disclosure routing layers used by digital marketplaces.
- CERO (Computer Entertainment Rating Organization): CERO is the Japanese age-rating body for video and computer entertainment, providing pre-purchase content disclosure for the Japanese market. PEGI and CERO act as the two highest-volume national/regional rating systems used by Japanese and European publishers for market entry.
Regional players
- ACB (Australian Classification Board): ACB is Australia's national classification body covering games, films, and publications under the National Classification Code. It performs a similar pre-distribution classification role, but at a national level with a broader content scope than PEGI's video-game focus.
- DJCTQ (Classificação Indicativa): DJCTQ is Brazil's federal age-rating authority for games and audiovisual media. It serves the same gatekeeper role as PEGI but for the Brazilian market, and is connected to IARC routing for cross-border listings.
- MDA / IMDA (Singapore Media Development Authority): IMDA regulates Singapore's media and content classification across games, broadcast, and other digital content. It is a peer in the sense of operating a national pre-publication classification function for video games serving Asian-facing publishers.
Broad incumbents
- BBFC (British Board of Film Classification): BBFC is the UK classification body for films and certain video-content distribution. PEGI historically covered video games separately from BBFC; both operate as long-standing, recognized content-classification authorities within the UK regulatory ecosystem.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Pan European Game Information social profiles
Digital presencePan European Game Information financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Pan European Game Information leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Pan European Game Information funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Pan European Game Information M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Pan European Game Information
What does Pan European Game Information do?
PEGI (Pan European Game Information) operates a unified pan-European age classification system for video games, assigning standardized age ratings (PEGI 3, 7, 12, 16, 18) and content descriptors across 38+ European countries. Video game publishers and developers submit games for classification and license the PEGI logos and descriptors for use on packaging and digital storefronts, governed by a binding PEGI Code of Conduct with enforcement mechanisms including fines up to €500,000.
Is Pan European Game Information a public or private company?
Pan European Game Information is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Pan European Game Information founded?
Pan European Game Information was founded in 2003. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Pan European Game Information based?
Pan European Game Information is headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, in the Europe region.
How does Pan European Game Information make money?
One revenue line is on record: age Rating Licensing Fees.
Who are Pan European Game Information's main competitors?
Common Sense Media is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are USK (Unterhaltungssoftware Selbstkontrolle), ESRB (Entertainment Software Rating Board), GRAC (Game Rating and Administration Committee), IARC (International Age Rating Coalition) and CERO (Computer Entertainment Rating Organization). Regional players are ACB (Australian Classification Board), DJCTQ (Classificação Indicativa) and MDA / IMDA (Singapore Media Development Authority). BBFC (British Board of Film Classification) is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Pan European Game Information have an API?
No public API is recorded for Pan European Game Information.
What industry is Pan European Game Information in?
Pan European Game Information's product category is Video Game Content Rating Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAFAKAO, Accessibility & Compliance Services (A11y Testing, Ratings, Privacy/Regulatory), with a secondary code of MPAFABAL, Publishing Services Providers (Ratings, Compliance, Certification, Release Ops).