Understanding the Viral IGRS Komdigi Following Steam Ratings Confusion: What Is It?
Lately, the Indonesian gaming community has been abuzz with discussions about the emergence of the Indonesia Game Rating System (IGRS) label on the digital game distribution platform, Steam. The uproar began when netizens discovered anomalies in the age classifications displayed, where some games with violent elements were given a 3+ rating, while child-friendly games were labelled 18+.
This phenomenon has triggered a wave of protests on social media, deemed confusing and potentially misleading for parents in monitoring their children’s gaming activities. In response to the controversy, the Ministry of Communication and Digital (Komdigi) has affirmed that the ratings circulating on Steam are not the result of official government verification, but rather an internal mechanism based on self-declaration by the platform.
“The ratings in circulation are not the result of official IGRS classification. This has the potential to cause public misunderstanding, particularly regarding the age suitability of a game,” stated Sonny Hendra Sudaryana, Director of Digital Ecosystem Development at the Directorate General of Digital Ecosystem, quoted from the Ministry of Komdigi’s Instagram, @kemkomdigi, on Monday (6/4/2026).
In light of the commotion, Komdigi has stated it will promptly request official clarification from Steam (Valve). This firm step is taken to ensure that all information displayed to the public is accurate and accountable, to protect society, especially children.
So, what exactly is Komdigi’s IGRS? Here’s a complete overview.
What Is IGRS? Understanding the National Game Classification System
The Indonesia Game Rating System (IGRS) is an age classification system for digital games in Indonesia managed by Komdigi. According to a detikInet report, this system aims to provide information to the public about game content so that players, especially children, can play games suitable for their age.
This system was first launched in 2016 as an implementation of Minister of Communication and Informatics Regulation Number 11 of 2016. However, from 9 to 11 October 2025 at the Indonesia Game Developer (IGDX) Bali event, Komdigi reintroduced IGRS as part of government policy strengthening the implementation of Government Regulation (PP) TUNAS Number 17 of 2025.
“Through IGRS, Indonesia positions itself as a pioneer in the region with a national rating system aligned with cultural values and local wisdom,” said Minister of Komdigi Meutya Hafid at the time.
Meutya also added that IGRS is applied free of charge for national game developers to ensure regulations serve as a bridge that facilitates, rather than hinders, the development of the creative industry.
“This policy protects children while accelerating the competitiveness of local developers on a global level,” emphasised the Minister of Komdigi.
Age Categories and Content in IGRS
According to information on Komdigi’s official website, game classification is based on the content categories displayed and the user age group. The content assessed includes elements of tobacco, alcohol, narcotics, violence, blood/mutilation, language use, character appearance, sexual content, gambling simulation, and horror elements.
Here is a detailed breakdown of the age categories:
All Ages (SU): Safe to play by all segments of society.
3+ (Three years and above): Very light content, without violent elements or coarse language.
7+ (Seven years and above): May contain mild fantasy or horror elements.
13+ (Thirteen years and above): Begins to include moderate violence or more complex language.
18+ (Eighteen years and above): Adult content requiring maturity of thought from players.
In addition to these categories, there are games that fall into the unrated category (cannot be classified) if they contain gambling, pornography, or content contrary to Indonesian law. Oversight of this self-assessment testing is conducted by a Classification Committee consisting of government elements, experts, and the gaming industry community.
That’s a glimpse into Komdigi’s IGRS, which is currently the talk of the town in Indonesian society. Hopefully it’s useful!