IARC Rating ID

The iarc_rating_id property allows you to specify an International Age Rating Coalition (IARC) certificate for your PWA, which provides globally recognized age and content ratings for digital applications.

What is IARC?

IARC (International Age Rating Coalition) is a globally recognized system that provides age and content ratings for digital applications and games. It consolidates multiple rating systems into a single certification process:

• ESRB (Entertainment Software Rating Board) - North America

• PEGI (Pan European Game Information) - Europe

• USK (Unterhaltungssoftware Selbstkontrolle) - Germany

• ClassInd - Brazil

• ACB (Australian Classification Board) - Australia

• GCAM (Generic) - Global

Purpose

IARC ratings help:

• App stores: Display appropriate age ratings

• Parents: Make informed decisions about content

• Compliance: Meet legal requirements in various regions

• Distribution: Qualify for certain app stores and platforms

• Trust: Build credibility with users

Configuration

/config/packages/pwa.yaml

pwa:
    manifest:
        enabled: true
        iarc_rating_id: "e84b072d-71b3-4d3e-86ae-31a8ce4e53b7"

The iarc_rating_id is optional. Only include it if you have obtained an official IARC certificate for your application.

When You Need an IARC Rating

Required For

• Games: All games distributed through major platforms

• Social platforms: Apps with user-generated content

• Dating apps: Applications with mature content

• App stores: Some stores require ratings for listing

• Regional compliance: Certain countries mandate ratings

Not Required For

• Internal business apps: Enterprise or private applications

• Productivity tools: Office, note-taking, basic utilities

• Information websites: News, documentation, basic content

• Simple utilities: Calculators, weather apps, timers

How to Obtain an IARC Rating

Step 1: Determine Eligibility

IARC ratings are available through participating storefronts:

• Google Play Store

• Microsoft Store

• Oculus Store

• Nintendo eShop

• Other participating platforms

Step 2: Complete the Questionnaire

Access the IARC questionnaire through your app store's developer console:

1. Log in to your developer account

2. Navigate to app ratings section

3. Complete the content questionnaire

4. Review the generated ratings

5. Accept and receive your certificate ID

Step 3: Use the Certificate ID

After completing the questionnaire, you'll receive a unique certificate ID:

iarc_rating_id: "e84b072d-71b3-4d3e-86ae-31a8ce4e53b7"

IARC Questionnaire Categories

The questionnaire evaluates your app across several categories:

1. Violence

• Physical conflict

• Blood and gore

• Weapons

• Injury depictions

2. Sexual Content

• Nudity

• Sexual references

• Sexual activity

• Romantic content

3. Language

• Profanity

• Crude humor

• Insults

• Slang

4. Controlled Substances

• Alcohol references

• Drug use

• Tobacco references

5. User Interaction

• User-to-user communication

• Sharing location

• Unrestricted internet access

• User-generated content

6. In-App Purchases

• Digital goods purchases

• Real money transactions

• Subscription features

Rating Age Groups

Based on your responses, you'll receive ratings for different systems:

ESRB (North America)

• E (Everyone) - Content suitable for all ages

• E10+ (Everyone 10+) - Suitable for ages 10 and up

• T (Teen) - Content for ages 13 and up

• M (Mature) - Content for ages 17 and up

• AO (Adults Only) - Content for ages 18 and up

PEGI (Europe)

• PEGI 3 - Suitable for all ages

• PEGI 7 - Suitable for 7 and older

• PEGI 12 - Suitable for 12 and older

• PEGI 16 - Suitable for 16 and older

• PEGI 18 - Suitable for adults only

Other Regional Ratings

IARC automatically generates equivalent ratings for all participating systems.

Practical Examples

Social Media App

pwa:
    manifest:
        name: "SocialConnect"
        description: "Connect with friends and share moments."
        iarc_rating_id: "a1b2c3d4-e5f6-7890-1234-567890abcdef"
        # Likely rated: Teen/PEGI 12+ (user-generated content)

Questionnaire responses might include:

• User-to-user communication: Yes

• User-generated content: Yes

• Location sharing: Optional

• Mature content: Moderated

Gaming App

pwa:
    manifest:
        name: "SpaceRacer"
        description: "Fast-paced racing game with power-ups."
        iarc_rating_id: "b2c3d4e5-f6g7-8901-2345-678901bcdefg"
        # Likely rated: Everyone/PEGI 3 (mild cartoon violence)

Questionnaire responses might include:

• Violence: Cartoon/fantasy

• Blood: None

• Language: None

• In-app purchases: Yes (cosmetics)

Productivity App (No Rating Needed)

pwa:
    manifest:
        name: "TaskManager"
        description: "Organize your tasks efficiently."
        # No iarc_rating_id - not required for productivity tools

News App

pwa:
    manifest:
        name: "NewsDaily"
        description: "Stay informed with breaking news."
        iarc_rating_id: "c3d4e5f6-g7h8-9012-3456-789012cdefgh"
        # Likely rated: Teen/PEGI 12+ (news content)

Certificate Management

Certificate ID Format

IARC certificate IDs are UUID format:

e84b072d-71b3-4d3e-86ae-31a8ce4e53b7
│         │    │    │    │
└─ 8 hex  └─ 4 └─ 4 └─ 4 └─ 12 hex characters
   chars    hex  hex  hex

Updating Your Rating

If your app's content changes significantly:

1. Re-evaluate content against original questionnaire

2. Update responses in developer console

3. Obtain new certificate ID (may be the same if rating unchanged)

4. Update manifest if ID changed

# Before content update
iarc_rating_id: "old-certificate-id"

# After re-evaluation (if needed)
iarc_rating_id: "new-certificate-id"

Certificate Expiration

IARC certificates generally don't expire, but you must:

• Update if content changes significantly

• Re-certify if app is republished after removal

• Comply with platform-specific renewal policies

Platform Support

Google Play Store

• Full IARC integration

• Automatic rating display

• Required for games

• Certificate obtained through Play Console

Microsoft Store

• Supports IARC ratings

• Displays regional equivalents

• Certificate via Partner Center

• Required for certain categories

Apple App Store

• Uses separate rating system (not IARC)

• IARC not directly applicable

• Use App Store Connect ratings

Web App Stores

• Some support IARC in PWA manifests

• Display may vary by platform

• Check specific store requirements

Common Mistakes

1. Using Placeholder or Fake IDs

# ✗ Wrong - invalid ID
iarc_rating_id: "example-certificate"
iarc_rating_id: "12345"
iarc_rating_id: "pending"

Impact: Rating won't be recognized, may cause validation errors

Fix: Only use valid IARC certificate IDs obtained through official process

2. Including Rating When Not Needed

# ✗ Unnecessary for simple productivity app
pwa:
    manifest:
        name: "CalculatorApp"
        iarc_rating_id: "..."  # Not needed

Fix: Omit iarc_rating_id if not required

3. Not Updating After Content Changes

# ✗ Outdated rating after adding chat feature
iarc_rating_id: "old-id"  # Rated Everyone, but now has user communication

Fix: Re-evaluate and update when adding features like:

• User communication

• User-generated content

• In-app purchases

• Mature content

4. Confusing IARC with App Store Ratings

IARC is separate from:

• App Store star ratings (user reviews)

• Google Play store ratings

• Platform-specific content ratings

Testing Your Rating

1. Validate Certificate ID

Check that your certificate is active:

• Log into the platform where you obtained it

• Verify certificate status

• Ensure app details match

2. Check Manifest

// Verify IARC ID in manifest
fetch('/manifest.json')
    .then(r => r.json())
    .then(manifest => {
        if (manifest.iarc_rating_id) {
            console.log('IARC Rating ID:', manifest.iarc_rating_id);
        } else {
            console.log('No IARC rating specified');
        }
    });

3. View in DevTools

1. Open DevTools (F12)
2. Go to Application → Manifest
3. Check "iarc_rating_id" field

Legal and Compliance

Regional Requirements

Some regions require age ratings:

• Germany: USK ratings mandatory for games

• Brazil: ClassInd ratings required

• Australia: ACB ratings for certain content

• South Korea: GRB ratings for games

Penalties for Non-Compliance

• App removal from stores

• Fines in certain jurisdictions

• Loss of distribution rights

• Legal liability for inappropriate content access

Recommended Practice

Even if not required:

• Consider obtaining rating for transparency

• Helps with parental controls

• Builds user trust

• Facilitates international distribution

FAQs

Q: Is IARC rating free? A: Yes, obtaining an IARC certificate is free through participating platforms.

Q: How long does it take? A: Instant - you receive the certificate immediately after completing the questionnaire.

Q: Can I use one IARC ID for multiple apps? A: No, each app requires its own certificate based on its specific content.

Q: What if my app is for adults only? A: You'll receive appropriate mature ratings (M/AO/PEGI 18), which may limit distribution.

Q: Do I need separate ratings for iOS? A: Yes, Apple uses its own rating system via App Store Connect.

Q: Can I appeal a rating? A: Yes, contact the IARC support team or the platform where you obtained the rating.

Resources

• IARC Official Website: https://www.globalratings.com/

• Google Play IARC: Available in Play Console

• Microsoft Store IARC: Available in Partner Center

• IARC FAQs: https://www.globalratings.com/faqs.aspx

Related Properties

• Description - Describe your app's content

• Categories - App classification

• Name - App identification

Summary

IARC rating best practices:

• ✓ Obtain official certificate through participating platforms

• ✓ Only include if your app needs age rating

• ✓ Answer questionnaire honestly and accurately

• ✓ Update rating when content changes significantly

• ✓ Use correct certificate ID format (UUID)

• ✓ Comply with regional requirements

• ✗ Don't use fake or placeholder IDs

• ✗ Don't skip rating for games or social apps

• ✗ Don't forget to update after major content changes