Mexico is contemplating slapping an eight p.c tax on violent video video games

Violent video 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 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 beneath Mexico’s online game age classification system, which is analogous to ESRB within the US. The C score is for gamers who’re not less than 18 years previous and permits for excessive violence, bloodshed and reasonable graphic sexual content material, whereas the D score is reserved for adults solely and permits for extended scenes that embody comparable content material.

The proposed legislation was first launched in September, when the nation’s Treasury Department claimed that “recent studies have found a relationship between the use of violent video games and higher levels of aggression among adolescents, as well as negative social and psychological effects such as isolation and anxiety.” The report cited a research 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 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 will likely be debated earlier than a November 15 deadline to submit a price range proposal.