AO (Adults Only 18+)
Adults Only (AO) 18+ is an ESRB rating that indicates a video game can not be played by anyone under 18. According to the ESRB, an AO rated video game "may contain prolonged scenes of intense violence, graphic sexual content and/or gambling with real currency."
Equivalent to: MPA's NC-17. No TV Parental Guidelines equivalent adjacent to the AO rating exists.
- French name: Adultes seulement 18+
- Spanish name: Adultos únicamente +18
So far, there have only been 24 video games with an AO rating. Sony, Nintendo, and Microsoft's policies do not allow AO-rated video games on their consoles, making them available only for release on PC and MacOS (if applicable). Twitch, a gaming streaming service一does not allow the streaming of video games whose ESRB rating is Adults Only. More recently, most games utilizing non-fungible tokens (NFTs) or blockchain technology are rated AO, as they involve the use of real-world money.
Video games with this rating before 2021 are now rated D in Mexico.
Contrary to popular belief, the AO rating is not used for adult/pornographic video games, and most games of this nature are not submitted for ratings in the United States.
Content of AO-rated video games
AO-rated video games may contain extremely graphic and/or sadistic violence (e.g., Thrill Kill, Manhunt 2 [PC version], and Hatred), pornographic sex scenes, graphic sexual violence, and/or real gambling.
There are essentially no restrictions for any types of objectionable content, as long as it is within the law.
Examples of notable-AO rated video games
- Thrill Kill (canceled): Animated Blood and Gore, Animated Violence
- Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (due to a controversial mod that unlocked a hidden, unfinished sex mini-game, its ESRB rating was temporarily changed from M to AO, later changing it back to M when the hidden content was removed): Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs
- Manhunt 2 (PC version, 2009): Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs
- Hatred: Intense Violence, Blood and Gore, Strong Language
- Hatred was highly controversial for the misanthropic and brutally violent nature of the player character. It is the one of the few AO-rated video games released without any sexual content.
- Peak Entertainment Casinos: Gambling
- To date, this is the only AO-rated game to be rated as such for real-money gambling other than sex or violence.
Equivalents
- MPA's NC-17 rating
- MTRCB's R-18 and hard SPG ratings
- PEGI's 18 rating
- BBFC's 18 rating
- ACB's R 18+ rating
- CERO's Z rating
- Netflix's 18+ rating
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