Mexico is contemplating slapping an eight % tax on violent video video games

Violent video games have discovered themselves within the crosshairs of politicians but once more, however this time with Mexico’s authorities. Earlier this week, Mexico’s Chamber of Deputies authorized a complete financial package that features an eight % tax on video video games with mature content material. As first reported by Insider Gaming, the proposed tax covers video games which have a C or D ranking underneath Mexico’s online game age classification system, which has similarities to ESRB within the US. The C ranking is for gamers who’re no less than 18 years outdated and permits for excessive violence, bloodshed and reasonable graphic sexual content material, whereas the D ranking is reserved for adults solely and permits for extended scenes that embrace comparable content material.

The proposed regulation was first launched in September, when the nation’s Treasury Division claimed that “current research have discovered a relationship between the usage of violent video video games and better ranges of aggression amongst adolescents, in addition to unfavourable social and psychological results reminiscent of isolation and anxiousness.” The report cited a research from 2012 in a footnote, which additionally noticed some constructive associations with video video games, together with motor studying and constructing resilience.

The present interpretation of the proposal that is been authorized by the Chamber of Deputies would apply to digital and bodily copies of affected video games, in addition to any in-game purchases or microtransactions. The proposal nonetheless has to undergo Mexico’s different congressional chamber, the Senate, the place it is going to be debated earlier than a November 15 deadline to submit a funds proposal.