Germany’s new game rating laws lead to Steam delisting classics like The Chaos Engine

According to various reports, in an effort to protect Germany’s younger audience, a specialized government division has reportedly led to the removal of up to 27 game titles from the Steam store accessible in Germany. Among these removed games is the Commodore Amiga classic The Chaos Engine. The games targeted are often considered controversial due to their content involving violence, crime, sex, nudity, and coarse language. This action aligns with recent changes in German regulation and Steam’s policy requiring games to have a valid age rating to remain available in the German market. Many of these delisted titles lack ratings from Germany’s USK or Steam’s own rating process, which led to their removal. The policy aims to prevent minors from accessing inappropriate media, which includes some classic and indie games that may not have pursued the costly and complex rating procedures. The Chaos Engine, a 1993 top-down run-and-gun game set in a steampunk Victorian world, is notable not only for its gameplay but also its innovative AI that simulated a human cooperative partner. Despite its classic status, it falls under the banned or delisted category in Germany due to concerns about violence and mature elements referenced in regulatory “Index” lists. This represents an intensified effort by German authorities to restrict controversial games—with criteria focused on violence, crime, sexual content, nudity, and harsh language—by requiring official age ratings for all games sold online in the country, including on major digital storefronts like Steam. In summary, the recent delisting of titles including The Chaos Engine is part of Germany’s ongoing and increasingly strict media regulation to shield younger audiences from potentially harmful content, enforced through rules mandating age ratings on digital game platforms.

Spread the love

More Amiga news