Microsoft reverses 'Mature' games ban in Euro Windows Store
Games like Doom 3 and Bioshock were banned in the European Windows 8 Store over a ratings discrepancy, but now that's changed.
After a U.S. vs. European ratings snafu, "mature" games will now be allowed in Microsoft's European Windows 8 Store.
According to Gizmodo, the software giant announced today that it would reverse an earlier decision that banned all PEGI 18 games that also received a Mature rating from its European store.
The ban was instated when Microsoft outlined its Windows Store guidelines, which said that ESRB ratings of Adults Only would not be allowed in the U.S. and PEGI 18 ratings would be barred in Europe. The discrepancy between the two regions was based on different ratings scales.
The problem was that this made the European ratings much more restrictive. The PEGI 18 rating banned many games that were allowed in the U.S., including Skyrim, Dishonored, Doom 3, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, Bioshock, and tons of others.
Microsoft got hip the difference between the two ratings systems and has now changed its guidelines so that in both Europe and the U.S. everything is allowed except for Adults Only ratings -- which is mostly porn anyway, according to Gizmodo.
While Microsoft launched its Window Store with Windows 8 today, the ratings change won't take effect in the European store until December, according to Gizmodo.
CNET contacted Microsoft for comment. We'll update the story when we get more information.