Windows 8 Store will not allow games rated above PEGI 16

Windows 8 is all set to become the next big thing, and with many game developers voicing their displeasure with the operating system, things don’t look too well for the OS in terms of gaming. According to Eurogamer, the Windows 8 Store will not allow games that are rated higher than PEGI 16. This means no games with mature themes or violence will be allowed. Currently, some of these games include Skyrim, Mass Effect 3, and Dishonored – some of the biggest and most highly acclaimed games in recent times.

“Your app must not contain adult content, and metadata must be appropriate for everyone. Apps with a rating over PEGI 16, ESRB Mature, or that contain content that would warrant such a rating, are not allowed,” the Windows Store app rules say. “Windows Store apps are appropriate for a global audience.”

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The Windows 8 Store won’t be hosting games rated higher than PEGI 16 or Mature by ESRB

Fortunately, this does not mean that PEGI 18 rated games will not be playable on Windows 8. But it looks like Microsoft is attempting to take Windows 8 in the same direction as Apple’s Mac with its own regulated App Store. This has been one of the biggest criticisms that the company has been facing from big names in the games development industry such as John Carmack, Markus Persson and Gabe Newell.

Last month, Markus “Notch” Persson spoke out against Windows 8 for the second time. “Got an email from Microsoft, wanting to help ‘certify’ Minecraft for Win 8,” he tweeted. “I told them to stop trying to ruin the PC as an open platform.” He added, “I’d rather have Minecraft not run on Win 8 at all than to play along. Maybe we can convince a few people not to switch to Win 8 that way.”

Back in August during QuakeCon, John Carmack had spoken out against Windows 8 in his keynote speech. Carmack mentioned that they started working on Windows 7 directly after XP, and that they had skipped Windows Vista entirely. “Hardly anyone at id used Vista.” When Windows 7 was released, Carmack added, it was a bit more attractive because it did some things better and faster. So there was no reason for him to consider switching to Windows 8. He said that no one in his team has worked on Windows 8 yet. However, his team intended to do so, because the launch of Doom 3: BFG Edition was very close to that of Windows 8.

Carmack stated that while he has much more respect for Microsoft than others, he has some doubts about the new touch-based UI in Windows 8, and whether it will be successful. He also said he is “kind of excited” about the Surface tablet.

Carmack joined the growing list of important game developers that are not keen on Microsoft’s upcoming Windows 8 OS. Earlier, Notch had spoken out about Windows 8 on a Q&A on Reddit. “If Microsoft decides to lock down Windows 8, it would be very, very bad for Indie games and competition in general,” Notch said during the Q&A. “If we can keep open platforms around, there’s going to be a lot of very interesting games in ten years, mixed in with the huge AAA games that we all love.”