Steam's IGRS Age Ratings Under Scrutiny, Komdigi: Not Official Classification

The age-based game classification system from the Ministry of Communication and Digital (Kemkomdigi), the Indonesia Game Rating System (IGRS), is currently under scrutiny by netizens on social media. The implementation of IGRS age ratings on the digital game distribution platform Steam is deemed odd. Several games containing adult content are instead labelled safe for children, while a number of popular games receive a “not suitable” rating. This situation has sparked buzz on the X platform (formerly Twitter). Several Indonesian gamers have shared screenshots showing the oddities in the classification system. On Steam’s storefront, netizens found several games with sexual content labelled with a 3+ rating, meaning suitable for children aged three and above. In response to this controversy, Kemkomdigi provided clarification. Komdigi emphasised that the age labels appearing on Steam are not the result of official classifications verified by the Indonesian government. The Director of Digital Ecosystem Development at the Directorate General of Digital Ecosystem, Sonny Hendra Sudaryana, stated that the ratings displayed on the platform still come from an internal mechanism based on self-declaration. “The circulating ratings are not the result of official IGRS classification. This has the potential to cause public misunderstanding, especially regarding the age suitability of a game,” said Sonny in an official statement received by KompasTekno on Monday (06/04/2026). Komdigi also emphasised that every digital business actor is obliged to present accurate, clear, and non-misleading information, while ensuring user protection. This obligation is regulated in several regulations, including Law Number 1 of 2024 as a revision of the ITE Law, which emphasises child protection in electronic systems, Minister of Communication and Informatics Regulation Number 2 of 2024 on Game Classification, which mandates the inclusion of official classification results, and Minister of Communication and Informatics Regulation Number 5 of 2020 on Private Electronic System Operators. “We ask platforms to ensure that all information displayed to the public is accurate and accountable. This is not just about compliance, but also responsibility in protecting users, especially children,” Sonny continued. If violations are found in the evaluation, the government will follow up in accordance with applicable rules, including the imposition of administrative sanctions on non-compliant electronic system operators. Komdigi also stated that it will continue to refine the IGRS system, including strengthening verification and supervision mechanisms so that game classifications become more accurate and reliable.