Mexico is contemplating slapping an eight p.c 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 permitted a complete financial package that features an eight p.c 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 score underneath Mexico’s online game age classification system, which has similarities to ESRB within the US. The C score is for gamers who’re at the very least 18 years previous and permits for excessive violence, bloodshed and average graphic sexual content material, whereas the D score 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 “latest research have discovered a relationship between using violent video video games and better ranges of aggression amongst adolescents, in addition to unfavourable social and psychological results corresponding to isolation and nervousness.” The report cited a examine from 2012 in a footnote, which additionally noticed some optimistic associations with video video games, together with motor studying and constructing resilience.

The present interpretation of the proposal that is been permitted 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 will likely be debated earlier than a November 15 deadline to submit a finances proposal.