Twitch today has established guidelines stating that ESRB-rated Adult Only (AO) games can no longer be streamed using its service.
“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,” Twitch declared. “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.
“While the ESRB ratings apply exclusively to US titles, our policy extends to versions of these games in all territories. Generally, if the US version is rated for Adults Only (18+) or has an equivalent rating in your territory, you should not broadcast that game on Twitch.”
The ESRB, America’s privately-run equivalent of Australia’s Classification Board, has only rated 26 titles as Adult Only. On that list are notable titles Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas and Indigo Prophecy, though Mature-rated versions of the initially-rated AO games are permitted to be streamed, Twitch confirmed.
So in short, no Hot Coffee.
This article may contain affiliate links, meaning we could earn a small commission if you click-through and make a purchase. Stevivor is an independent outlet and our journalism is in no way influenced by any advertiser or commercial initiative.
