Video Games Ratings Enforcement Act

H.R. 5345, the Video Games Ratings Enforcement Act, would make it a federal requirement for all video games sold or rented in the United States to clearly display an age-based rating from the Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB) on their packaging. The bill would also mandate that retail stores provide information to customers explaining how the ESRB rating system works.

Under this legislation, it would be illegal for retailers to sell or rent "Adults Only" games to anyone under 18, or "Mature" games to anyone under 17. Businesses found in violation of these rules would face civil penalties of up to $5,000 per occurrence. For everyday citizens, this bill aims to standardize the visibility of content warnings and create a legal age floor for the purchase of violent or sexually explicit video games.