Twitch bans Adult Only rated games

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Twitch will no longer allow “Adult Only” rated games on their streaming service, following an update to their rules of conduct. AO ratings come from the US-governed ESRB, which has included games such as Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, and Manhunt 2.

However, streamers are still able to play ESRB Mature-rated versions of Adult Only games, without fearing any sort of penalty.

Twitch made the new rules known via an announcement on their official blog:

“Previously, we made game-specific decisions about which games would and would not be available for broadcast – sometimes due to overtly sexual content, sometimes due to gratuitous violence. This is unsustainable and unclear, generating only further confusion among Twitch broadcasters. We would like to make this policy as transparent as possible.

“Today, we’re updating the RoC with regard to Adult Only (AO) games. Simply put, AO games are not welcome on Twitch. Please refer to the ESRB’s Ratings Guide and list of Adults Only games for more information.”

In total, there are only 26 games rated Adult Only by the ESRB, but there are some popular titles within the list, such as Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. Thankfully, after a clarification by Twitch, it turns out that ESRB Mature-rated versions of AO games will still be allowed to be streamed.

“If a game’s US version is rated Adults Only by the ESRB, you should not broadcast that game on Twitch. However, ESRB rated Mature versions of Adults Only titles are permitted for streaming, such as Mature versions of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas and Fahrenheit: Indigo Prophecy.

“Games rated 18+ by other rating systems are fine to stream, so long as they are not rated AO by the ESRB, and they don’t violate the standard language of our RoC and ToS."

What's your take on the new rules?

Posted:
Related Forum: PC Gaming Forum

Source: http://www.pcgamesn.com/twitch-bans-adult-only-rated-games-we-would-like-to-make-this-policy-as-transparent-as-possible

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"Twitch bans Adult Only rated games" :: Login/Create an Account :: 73 comments

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RoyaIPosted:

Kind of defeats the whole purpose of Twitch, doesn't it?

ApexJnrPosted:

-Deano This is ridiculous. Twitch is supposed to be a streaming platform to allow people to broadcast their content.

Why do they get to decide what people want to watch?

If I wanted to watch a stream of an AO game, I should be able to. It's not like the streams don't have the "stream is not intended for children" banner or whatever it is before you are able to view some streamers.


You know it's not their fault right, and the internet is censored in many ways all ready, it just depends on what you want to look for.

PryzelPosted:

Damn, not that I ever watched that much SA but this is a pity, people should be allowed to stream what they want really.

TaigaAisakaPosted:

-Deano This is ridiculous. Twitch is supposed to be a streaming platform to allow people to broadcast their content.

Why do they get to decide what people want to watch?

If I wanted to watch a stream of an AO game, I should be able to. It's not like the streams don't have the "stream is not intended for children" banner or whatever it is before you are able to view some streamers.


I'm sure there will be, if not already petitions to have the rules changed back to how it was before.

-DeanoPosted:

This is ridiculous. Twitch is supposed to be a streaming platform to allow people to broadcast their content.

Why do they get to decide what people want to watch?

If I wanted to watch a stream of an AO game, I should be able to. It's not like the streams don't have the "stream is not intended for children" banner or whatever it is before you are able to view some streamers.

VauxhallPosted:

Wow really? this is so stupid

-CorgiPosted:

Manasaki-Sama
GFXMoon wait so when did a m rated game(gta sa) go from m to ao? cause im pretty sure ppl are still streaming sa so twitch **** up as its 17+ not 18+ unless your from eu then i see why but still stupid just add age restrict but we all know nobody puts their real age as the kiddies want to be older already to be able to watch but yeah that is a bad move from them, it doesnt even bother me since i dont watch gta streams as they are boring as for manhunt i see why that one is banned now


SA was originally rated AO because of the hot coffee scene like a week later after release stores took it of the shelves because of that so Rockstar decided take out the sex scene and make it rated M.


No, it was originally rated M. It got changed to AO like a year later I think, and then got changed back to M.

xxRider702xxPosted:

I thought SA was first M and it got switched to AO and then it got switched back to M .? Can some one confirm or deny this? I cant find anything online about it atm..

OGPosted:

It might be that they had alot of complains. Its always good to have restrictions but on games, probably not.

Manasaki-SamaPosted:

GFXMoon wait so when did a m rated game(gta sa) go from m to ao? cause im pretty sure ppl are still streaming sa so twitch **** up as its 17+ not 18+ unless your from eu then i see why but still stupid just add age restrict but we all know nobody puts their real age as the kiddies want to be older already to be able to watch but yeah that is a bad move from them, it doesnt even bother me since i dont watch gta streams as they are boring as for manhunt i see why that one is banned now


SA was originally rated AO because of the hot coffee scene like a week later after release stores took it of the shelves because of that so Rockstar decided take out the sex scene and make it rated M.


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