Indonesia To Seek Clarification From Steam Over IRGS Rating Display

JAKARTA, April 6 (Bernama) -- Indonesia will seek clarification from Steam after Indonesia Game Rating System (IGRS) labels were displayed on games on the platform without prior government verification, raising concerns over compliance with national content classification rules.

Director of Digital Ecosystem Development at the Communication and Digital Affairs Ministry, Sonny Hendra Sudaryana, said a meeting with the global digital video game distribution platform was scheduled after the inclusion of the IGRS labels drew attention among users on social media.

“So, tomorrow we will have a Zoom meeting. There may be clarification from Steam to explain the issues on their side,” he said, according to ANTARA News Agency, on Monday.

IGRS is an age-based classification system for video games distributed in Indonesia, aimed at protecting children from inappropriate content such as violence and adult themes, while guiding parents in selecting suitable games.

The system classifies games into age categories of 3+, 7+, 13+, 15+, and 18+.

Sonny explained that the labels appearing on Steam were based on the platform’s self-assessment and had not been verified by the government, attributing the issue to internal miscommunication.

He also said that Steam and the ministry have yet to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) or integrate their systems regarding the implementation of the classification system.

“We were actually planning to meet in May for the MoU process. Only after the MoU will the API (Application Programming Interface) be connected,” he said.

He added that Steam had apologised for the issue and had since removed the IGRS labels from its platform and reverted to the international rating system.

Sonny said the ministry is targeting completion of preparations for IGRS implementation and system integration with all game distribution platforms by June 2026.

Although based on international standards, Sonny said Indonesia applies a more conservative rating approach in line with local cultural norms.

“For example, revealing clothing may be rated 15 abroad, but in Indonesia it is 18. Similarly, alcohol or drug use is rated 18 in Indonesia compared to 15 in Europe,” he said.

In addition to IGRS, Indonesia had earlier strengthened child protection in the digital space through PP Tunas, which took effect on March 28 and underscores the importance of age-appropriate content and platform responsibility. 

-- BERNAMA