‘Gods Unbound’ returns to Epic Games Store after game-to-find policy change

The Epic Games Store has made changes to it Content policiesAllowing the NFT card game Gods Unchained to return to the platform, Fortnite publisher Epic Games announced Tuesday.

Gods Unchained, along with similar blockchain games Attack Manager 3It was earlier It has been removed from the Epic Games store Due to receiving an “Adults Only” rating from the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB). Before Tuesday's policy change, no AO-rated games were allowed on Epic's store.

“Some blockchain-based games are receiving Adult Only (AO) ratings from industry standards bodies for blockchain implementations,” an Epic Games representative said. Decrypt via email.

We've updated our Epic Games store content guidelines to allow AO-rated games solely due to the use of blockchain or NFT technology.

The ESRB assigns AO ratings to games it deems suitable only for ages 18 and up. Gods Unchained has been assigned an AO rating because it involves a game to earn real-world value in which players earn NFTs or crypto tokens,” the ESRB previously explained. Decrypt.

“The ESRB's age and content rating system evaluates whether products award real money, prizes of real-world value, or something that can or will be converted to real money (ie, gift cards, cryptocurrency, etc.), as well as the amount spent to qualify for such prizes,” he said. ESRB said earlier. Decrypt.

AO ratings—the most restrictive type—are typically given to games that contain extreme violence or graphic nudity and sexual themes. Both Xbox and PlayStation currently block 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 otherwise they cannot be rated for crypto or NFT elements.

The issue has previously created a huge catch-22 situation for game developers, as Epic has embraced blockchain games on its platform (unlike its rival). Steam), rejected those previously rated by AO.

Epic Games emphasized that policies against “gambling”, “porn” and “hateful content” will remain in place.

While blockchain games that offer “real-world value” to players will continue to receive adult-only ESRB ratings, those ratings will at least not prevent them from being listed on the Epic Games Store.

Edited by Andrew Hayward.