Windows 8 Doesn't Think the British Should Play Mature Games

Are you looking forward to the next iteration of Windows?  Do you love playing mature games?  Are you British?

If you were somehow one of the three people in the world that fits that description then I've got some bad news for you my friend.  Microsoft, already criticized for their closed design of Windows 8, has announced that they will be moderating games that will be sold on the Windows 8 Marketplace based on their ratings or their perceived ratings thereof.  From the Windows 8 app certification page:

"Apps with a rating over PEGI 16, ESRB MATURE, or that contain content that would warrant such a rating, are not allowed. Metadata and other content you submit to accompany your app may contain only content that would merit a rating of PEGI 12, ESRB EVERYONE, or Windows Store 12+, or lower."

Now, for those in North America whose games are regulated by the ESRB this isn't an issue.  For our friends across the pond however this is going to cause some outcry.  PEGI 18 is quite commonly used to rate games that the ESRB rates as M for mature.  This means that you will not be able to purchase any mature titles directly from Microsoft.

Before you explode however, allow me to clarify a point: this does not mean you cannot purchase PEGI 18 rated titles from another vendor other than Microsoft and play it on a Windows 8 machine.  What it does mean however is that Microsoft will be pushing even more gamers to using third party distribution platforms like Steam, Origin and Stardock.

You know what?  Why don't we take a look at a list of PEGI 18/ESRB Mature games arriving this Fall and over the next 6 months.

• Resident Evil 6
• Dishonored
• XCOM: Enemy Unknown
• 007 Legends
• Doom 3: BFG Edition
• Medal of Honor Warfighter
• Assassin's Creed III
• Natural Selection II
• Call of Duty: Black Ops II
• Far Cry 3
• Hitman Absolution
• Dead Space 3
• Aliens: Colonial Marines
• Bioshock Infinite
• South Park The Stick of Truth
• Tomb Raider
• Splinter Cell: Blacklist
• ARMA 3
• Crysis 3
• Metro Last Light
• Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs

Microsoft, look at that picture above.  You're making Michael Caine sad.  Are you really going to make him cry?

You're a bully.