‘Gods Unchained’ returns to Epic Games Store after Play-to-Earn policy changes

The Epic Games Store has made the following changes: Content PolicyNFT card game Gods Unchained has been allowed to return to the platform, Fortnite publisher Epic Games announced Tuesday.

Gods Unchained comes with other blockchain games: Striker Manager 3Before Removed from Epic Games Store That’s because it received an “Adults Only” rating from the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB). Before Tuesday’s policy change, AO-rated games were not allowed on the Epic store.

“Some blockchain-based games are receiving Adults Only (AO) ratings from industry rating agencies for their specific blockchain implementations,” an Epic Games representative said. decryption Via email.

“We have updated our Epic Games Store content policy to allow games with AO ratings due to their use of blockchain or NFT technology,” he added.

The ESRB assigns an AO rating to games that it deems appropriate only for users 18 years of age or older. Gods Unchained has been assigned an AO rating because it includes a play-to-earn element where players can receive NFTs or cryptocurrency tokens. -Worldwide value,” the ESRB previously explained. decryption.

“The ESRB Age and Content Rating system evaluates whether a product may offer rewards for real money, goods of real value, or something that can be redeemed or converted to real money (e.g. gift cards, cryptocurrency, etc.). There is cash expended to obtain such compensation,” the ESRB previously said. decryption.

The most restrictive type, the AO rating, is generally given to games that contain intense violence, graphic nudity, or sexual themes. Xbox and PlayStation currently ban AO-rated games on their respective platforms.

Now, Epic Games is willing to make an exception to its No AO Games policy for blockchain games, which will not be rated unless they have cryptocurrency or NFT elements.

This issue has previously caused huge challenges for game developers. Because while Epic allows blockchain games on its platform (unlike its competitors) steam) previously did not allow AO ratings.

However, Epic Games emphasized that its policies on “gambling,” “pornography,” and “hateful content” remain in place, so blockchain game developers must continue to adhere to these restrictions.

Blockchain games that provide “real value” to players will likely continue to receive an adults-only ESRB rating, but that rating won’t at least prevent them from being listed on the Epic Games Store.

Editor: Andrew Hayward