Violent video games have once again found themselves in the crosshairs of politicians, but this time with the Mexican government. Earlier this week, Mexico’s Chamber of Deputies passed a sweeping approval Financial package This includes an eight percent tax on video games with mature content. As reported by the first Insider GamingThe proposed tax covers games rated C or D under Mexico’s video game age classification system, similar to the ESRB in the United States. The C rating is for players who are at least 18 years old and allows for extreme violence, gore, and moderately graphic sexual content, while the D rating is reserved for adults only and allows for extended scenes that include similar content.
The proposed legislation was first introduced in September, when the nation’s Treasury Department claimed that “recent studies have found a link between the use of violent video games and high levels of aggression among adolescents, as well as negative social and psychological effects such as isolation and anxiety.” The report cites a 2012 study in a footnote, which also observed some positive associations with video games, including building motor learning and resilience.
violent video games
The current interpretation of the proposal approved by the Chamber of Deputies will apply to digital and physical copies of the affected games as well as any in-game purchases or microtransactions. The proposal must still go through Mexico’s other congressional chamber, the Senate, where it will be debated before a Nov. 15 deadline to submit a budget proposal.