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:

Log in to your developer account
Navigate to app ratings section
Complete the content questionnaire
Review the generated ratings
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

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:

Re-evaluate content against original questionnaire
Update responses in developer console
Obtain new certificate ID (may be the same if rating unchanged)
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

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

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Last updated 1 month ago

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