The Government of Indonesia has recently introduced its national game classification system (IGRS) to the Steam platform, which, although an important step in regulating the content of the game in the country, has not been carried out smoothly. IGRS, an official video game content classification system in Indonesia, was first established in 2016 by the Ministry of Communications and Information (now known as the Ministry of Communications and Figures). The system divides the game into five age groups: 3+, 7+, 13+, 15+ and 18+.
At the beginning of 2024, following a presidential regulation designed to develop the country ‘ s play industry, the Indonesian Play and Distribution Association (Komdigi) issued a new law to replace the old rules of 2016. According to the updated regulations, every game issued in Indonesia is subject to IGRS rating. To help developers and distributors adapt, the Government has set a two-year transition period. The idea behind the system is not just to label the game. It also aims to provide a clearer framework for indigenous Indonesian developers to gain greater credibility when their games compete in international markets. According to GamerWK, the situation quickly became more complex when IGRS accessed Steam. Some of the regular games are labelled as “unsuitable” and include well-known games such as The Lady’s Anecdot 5, Dragon 7, Simulatory Life 4, and Light and Shadow: Expeditions 33. The label gives the wrong impression that the game is banned in Indonesia, but the authorities have not explained what the situation actually means.
Beyond that, there is no rational hierarchy of games. Some of the games in the category of “all-age” or “adolescent” are labelled as 18+, while others are not classified at all. Part of the problem stems from the way IGRS operates on Steam. Vendors are required to submit their IGRS ratings manually, but not all issuers have local studios in Indonesia. This means that many games may not have ratings for some time.
In response, the Government of Indonesia made a public statement. The Ministry of Communications and Figures clarified that the ratings shown on Steam at that time were not officially certified IGRS. Instead, they come from Steam ‘ s internal system, where issuers declare their own ratings, which is independent of the official IGRS certification process. The department therefore warned that the labels displayed on Steam might be inaccurate or misleading. They also indicated that, under Indonesian legislation, digital platforms were obliged to display accurate and non-misleading information. The authorities therefore plan to contact Steam directly to clarify the situation and to work to ensure that the system complies with local requirements. The Government also indicated that the IGRS system would continue to be improved and made more transparent, particularly with regard to how ratings were validated and monitored. At the same time, the public is advised not to regard the ratings shown on Steam as official or final results.
In a recent update, IGRS ratings were not available on the Indonesian user Steam page. The games like Dragon 7 and Light and Shadow: Expedition 33 now have their ratings back on track, and Steam in Indonesia has returned to the commonly used European game classification system PEGI.
