Steam Apologises for IGRS Rating Errors, Valve Admits Technical Issues
The digital game distribution platform, Steam, has officially apologised for errors in listing Indonesia Game Rating System (IGRS) ratings on several games on their platform. This mistake drew public attention as it displayed age classifications that did not match the content of the games in question.
Steam explained that the data inaccuracies were caused by technical constraints and internal communication barriers. This resulted in incomplete and misleading rating information appearing on the store page for users in Indonesia.
“A technical error and miscommunication led to inaccurate and incomplete ratings being temporarily displayed on Steam between 2 April and 5 April,” Steam stated in its official release, quoted on Wednesday (9/4).
As a quick measure to minimise user confusion, Valve, the parent company of Steam, has removed all problematic IGRS rating displays. This step was taken while conducting a comprehensive evaluation of their data integration system.
Valve emphasised that they have actually been in intensive communication with the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (Kemkomdigi) for over two years. This collaboration aims to build an automatic and accurate age rating display system for customers in Indonesia.
“These ratings are intended to provide customers with information about the content and the minimum age group targeted for each game,” Steam added.
However, they acknowledged that several technical preparation steps are still needed before the approved IGRS ratings can be officially displayed again.
Previously, the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (Kemkomdigi) conducted a thorough investigation into irregularities in game classifications on Steam. Sonny Hendra Sudaryana, Director of Digital Ecosystem Development at Kemkomdigi, revealed significant anomalies in several popular game titles.
Sonny exemplified that PUBG, which should have an adult age restriction, was temporarily rated 3+ (all ages). Conversely, Upin Ipin Universe, aimed at children, was recorded as being for ages 18+.
“This is very strange to us and highly irregular, which is why we conducted this investigation to determine the actual issues, both internally at Komdigi and externally from Steam’s side,” Sonny asserted.
The investigation was conducted transparently, involving various stakeholders, including developer communities, industry associations, and national game industry players. The goal is to ensure that Indonesia’s game classification system operates effectively to protect consumers, especially children, from age-inappropriate content.