Skip to Content

AOL Games

How the ESRB handles downloadable content


We've always been curious how the ESRB handles the rating of downloadable content, especially after the Ratatouille "Hobo Murder and Cleavage" DLC pack caused such a stir earlier this year. While speaking at the MI6 Conference last week ESRB president Patricia Vance explained, saying, "they have to keep the content in the downloadable product consistent with the core rating. It can't go out of bounds." Presumably, if content was bad enough the game would have to be entirely re-rated.

Here's what we find interesting: If a publisher wanted to release AO content, but were afraid that stores wouldn't carry it, could they wait until sales were on a downturn and then release the naughty DLC? Because if it has nudity or a way of murdering people we've never tried we are totally there.

Tags: dlc, esrb

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Joystiq Features





Featured Galleries

Ivy the Kiwi (Windows Mobile)

Ivy the Kiwi (Windows Mobile)

Firefighter 360 (iPhone 3GS)

Firefighter 360 (iPhone 3GS)

Ghosts 'n Goblins: Gold Knights (iPhone)

Ghosts 'n Goblins: Gold Knights (iPhone)

Monster Rancher DS (11/10/09)

Monster Rancher DS (11/10/09)

Again (DS) (11/10/09)

Again (DS) (11/10/09)

Deadly Premonition (Xbox 360)

Deadly Premonition (Xbox 360)

Dawn of Heroes (DS)

Dawn of Heroes (DS)

ToeJam & Earl 4 concept art/pitch

ToeJam & Earl 4 concept art/pitch

Comet Crash

Comet Crash

 


Team Joystiq

 
Chris Grant
Editor-in-Chief, Email
James Ransom-Wiley
Managing Editor, Email
Ludwig Kietzmann
Senior Editor, Email
Andrew Yoon
East Coast Editor, Email
Randy Nelson
West Coast Editor, Email
Justin McElroy
Reviews Editor, Email
Justin Glow
Developer, Email

Joystiq Podcast

New episodes every Friday! Now playing: Joystiq Podcast 115, for Friday, Oct., 30.



Archive | RSS | iTunes