The ESRB is now allowing publishers to release trailers for Mature-rated titles that will not have to be age gated. These trailers will have a green “slate” that airs before the trailer rolls, and is required be on-screen for at least four seconds.
“A trailer, demo, or video (of any length) for a Mature-rated game that has been deemed suitable for a general audience through the ESRB pre-clearance process will not require an age-gate,” describes the ESRB. “Please note that pre-clearance of Mature-rated game trailers posted without an age-gate is mandatory and must be submitted to [the ESRB].”
The policy change will also allow more flexibility in the cross-promoting of products in the same retail package. “This policy addresses cross-marketing of games, not bundling products together,” clarified the ESRB. “The fundamental goal is to ensure that the cross-promotion of products is appropriately targeted. In doing so we may consider a variety of factors including the nature of the product, audience composition of the media vehicle being used, the intended audience of the game, whether registered users are of a certain age, whether an age-gate is employed, etc.”
Also in the note to publishers, ESRB has changed the rules on demos, allowing game demos to forgo flashing the rating for four seconds before the game begins, now only requiring that the rating be displayed in a clearly visible manner from the place it is acquired. Also, the ESRB has relaxed the rule wherein ESRB ratings cannot be displayed next to ratings for other regions, like PEGI, on websites and social media.
Source: GiantBomb.com
