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Xbox Store, Stream, & multiple regions lists an ESRB Adult Only (AO) or similar rating for Assassin’s Creed Mirage [Up: Miscommunication]

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modiz

modiz

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Oct 8, 2018
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Buy Assassin's Creed® Mirage | Xbox

Experience the story of Basim, a cunning street thief with nightmarish visions, seeking answers and justice as he navigates the bustling streets of ninth-century Baghdad. Through a mysterious, ancient organization known as the Hidden Ones, he will become a deadly Master Assassin and change his...
www.xbox.com
IMG_0534.png


Given the rest of the content warnings are pretty standard for Mature rated titles, the AO rating seems to come from the Real Gambling warning, which is defined by the ESRB as "Player can gamble, including betting or wagering real cash or currency", as opposed to Simulated Gambling which is defined by "Player can gamble without betting or wagering real cash or currency". Going by their Rating guide, Simulated Gambling is allowed from rating T and up whereas Real Gambling is only allowed for a rating of AO.

Mirage is still some ways out, so it is likely that this rating is a provisional one of what the publisher expects the game to be rated as, but I don't think I have even heard of an AO rated game in many years.
 
MGPanda

MGPanda

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Feb 25, 2018
2,483
Yeah, Ubisoft is scummy but even they are above this. This is 100% the typical "historically accurate ingame gambling minigame" like that one with the wooden tokens in Valhalla.
 
TaleSpun

TaleSpun

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Oct 25, 2017
9,449
It's an error for sure because unless something changed, none of the three console manufacturers allow AO games to be sold on their hardware. I'm surprised Microsoft's system can even display that rating as an error.
 
elenarie

elenarie

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Jun 10, 2018
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This is a mistake seeing that no console platforms allow AO games. Unless a change in policy is happening.
 
elenarie

elenarie

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wrowa said:
I wonder if there would be a push to normalize AO ratings if the ESRB decided to classify lootbox mechanics as real gambling.
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Doing this change form ESRB side is one thing. The console platforms will in turn have to start accepting AO games, though, which so far they have denied automatically.

But maybe things are changing, no idea, tbh.
 
Neutron

Neutron

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Jun 2, 2022
2,777
Hopefully there was just something about "authentic gambling minigames" in the game's notes that the ESRB misinterpreted. But you'd think UbiSoft would see this rating and give feedback before it goes public?
 
Orion117

Orion117

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Dec 8, 2018
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Hopefully that's a mistake because i cant see Ubisoft putting actual gambling in a game. Unless there is some NFT bullshit in there that can technically count as gambling.
 
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Helix

Helix

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Jun 8, 2019
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Gambling had its origins in or around 3000 BCE so i'll give it a pass.
 
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Plinkerton

Plinkerton

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Nov 4, 2017
6,061
If you can use real money to buy in-game currency, and then gamble with that in-game currency, would that count for this?
 
Lord Fanny

Lord Fanny

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Wise said:
Why isn't AO used anyways? Pegi 18 is used all the time in Europe
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M/Mature is the equal to that in the US even if the age limit is 17+ instead of 18+. AO is basically considered pornography, at least as far as games. There isn't really like an NC-17 type of rating like there is for films that's a buffer between porn and on-porn, but NC-17 is basically never used in film anyway.
 
KillLaCam

KillLaCam

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Oct 25, 2017
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That would be cool if they start rating things AO for having random loot microtransactions, But I can't imagine them actually doing that
 
AO rating shows up on stream as well
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    Darkstorne said:
    Oh damn. Then maybe loot boxes? Are they considered "real gambling"?
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    The only explanation (outside of it being a massive mistake on Ubisoft's part somehow) is that ESRB changed their guidelines for what they view to be real gambling, and it probably does not work retroactively, making whatever has been implemented into Mirage be considered under the new guidelines "Real Gambling", turning the rating into an AO..
     
    elenarie

    elenarie

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    There are no lootboxes in Odyssey and Valhalla, and I doubt they will be adding them into this one.
     
    dodo

    dodo

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    Oct 27, 2017
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    if this isn't a mistake, I wonder if this is to do with Ubisoft's NFT push.
     
    .exe

    .exe

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    Oct 25, 2017
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    If it's indeed a policy of console manufacturers not to allow allow AO games for unstated ethical reasons but then this one's okay because it makes them good money, that's... amusing. But it wouldn't be the first time a game got rated AO pre-release and then got rerated to adult later.
     
    Beelzebufo

    Beelzebufo

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    Jun 1, 2022
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    If this isn't a mistake then it's definitely something to do with how you can purchase money in these games. They probably added a gambling mini game.

    But also you can appatantely do the exact same thing in GTAO and that's M, so idk
     
    Bleu

    Bleu

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    Sep 21, 2018
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    Do not underestimate the NFT lunatics at ubisoft, remember, the previous attempt failed because "our (stupid) players failed to see their interest with our (genius) system", not because it was shit.
    "Real gambling" sounds like you can take money out of the game, NFT would be one way to do it.
     
    Yeona

    Yeona

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    elenarie said:
    There are no lootboxes in Odyssey and Valhalla, and I doubt they will be adding them into this one.
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    Real gambling would constitute being able to withdraw money from the system, rather than just gambling for virtual currency or goods, which is what lootboxes are.

    As far as I know, console manufacturers don't allow that on the storefront so this is likely just a mistake.

    I hope.
     
    Arubedo

    Arubedo

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    Aren't AO rated games banned from being on the shelves of retailers?
    There is surely no way Ubisoft would let that happen is it?
     
    GlitchyDegree

    GlitchyDegree

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    Really crazy that it's even in the Ubisoft Forward video. I'm surprised no one noticed and made a thread about it earlier.
     
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