Call of Duty is known internationally as one of the best selling video game series. It is especially popular with teenagers and young adults, bringing in millions of players. Many parents ask how old kids should be to play Call of Duty, since there are some mature themes in the game. Being aware of the Call of Duty age rating guides parents as they decide what content their minors should watch. This article tells you what the COD age rating means, what the game contains and how parents can limit access for players below a certain age.
What is Call of Duty?
Activision has been responsible for developing the long-running Call of Duty series which is often called CoD. In 2003, the franchise was started by concentrating on real-life military combat situations. Over the years, it has grown into one of the top FPS series globally.
Players are put in the role of soldiers who take part in different battles. The games take place in war settings from World War II through the present and on into the future. A key feature of Call of Duty games is their realistic looks, impressive stories and tough battles to play through.
Examples of franchise titles are Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, Black Ops and Warzone. In every new expansion, the universe grows and more features are included.
People like CoD because it has fast action and fun multiplayer games. An active esports scene and strong competition are also advantages for it. Because of its huge popularity, it is a regular part of youth culture.
How does the game Call of Duty work?
Figuring out how the game is played explains the reason for its mature rating. The game offers a range of play modes to suit a variety of interests.
- Campaign mode: Campaign Mode is where you play on your own. Players navigate storylines dictated by the game and complete missions that recreate battle scenarios. Many of these stories depict the events that occur during war, such as battles and losses. Luckily, there is no sex in call of duty or any other explicit scenes. Game campaigns create a strong player experience through both stories and detailed effects.
- Multiplayer mode: The core social aspect of the game is Multiplayer Mode. People play together in real-time online matches. Examples of modes include team deathmatch, capture the flag, and objective battles. Talking through voice chat or writing messages helps players plan their next moves. The competition in the multiplayer mode keeps people hooked to the game for hours.
- Battle Royale & Zombies modes: Battle Royale and Zombies offer distinct gameplay experiences. Battle Royale is a game where many players try to be the only one left alive. It focuses on staying alive and playing smart in the game. In Zombies, players cooperate as they try to defend against enemies who are trying to overrun them.
Playing with others in multiplayer mode is a significant draw for teenagers, particularly due to the social aspect and the challenges it presents. Competing with people from different countries enhances interest in games. Yet, because there are others in the online community, it also brings the risk of encountering foul language and specific inappropriate actions.
Ensure a safe online environment for teens with the parental control.
What is Call of Duty’s age rating?
Game rating organizations officially give the Call of Duty age rating of 17+. These ratings indicate the recommended age range for players, depending on the content of the game.
Most of the time, the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) puts an M rating (Mature 17+) on Call of Duty in the United States. Therefore, the game is designed for individuals 17 years of age and above. The ESRB rating points out that such criteria exist because of intense violence, frequent blood and gore, use of strong language, and themes suggestive of the adult world. Call of Duty games in Europe are commonly assigned a PEGI 18 rating, which means adults should be the ones playing them. PEGI gives warnings about levels of violence, strong language, and drug use.
CERO, in Japan, classifies various Call of Duty games as Z (18+), restricting the audience to adults only.
Retailers, schools, and parents all widely accept and respect these ratings. They are meant to block children from accessing harmful material.
Breakdown on Call of Duty’s content concerns for parents
Parents who are concerned about the game may want to know what parts of the game receive its mature rating. The game contains content that may not be suitable for children and younger teens.
Violence and gore
Violence is the most prominent issue players have in Call of Duty. The game shows fights in a realistically bloody and detailed way. The weapons players use include guns, explosives, and hand-to-hand combat weapons to kill their enemies. There are often bloodstains, wounds caused by bullets, and situations where people die.
Rather than featuring cartoon violence, CoD attempts to make its scenes appear genuine. It also means presenting the victims and the results of battles. Some missions require shooting, killing, and destroying many objects.
Being a game set in a war environment, you will encounter a constant presence of violence. The high level of gore might be complex for some sensitive and younger players. Parents need to assess if the images included in the game will be too much for their child.
Strong language
There is a lot of harsh language used in Call of Duty. Characters in story mode swear a lot in their lines to represent how rough it is to be at war. It’s also very common for some multiplayer players to talk or write in vulgar ways.
Being exposed to swearing and insults in the game can hurt young players. It could lead them to think that imitating inappropriate talk is acceptable or even something normal.
Although a script controls the story, the multiplayer part is filled with occasions you can’t plan. Game settings do not always give complete control over what other participants say.
Online multiplayer chat and exposure to strangers
Managing what their children do in the online Call of Duty community is a significant issue for parents. Multiplayer brings together gamers worldwide to enjoy an active community.
People playing can connect with voice chat or messages. Children are exposed to people they do not know, and some of those individuals may misbehave. Common types of risks are harassment, bullying, offensive remarks, and explicit content. Children may encounter situations where adults attempt to influence them negatively. Parental controls may stop some forms of communication, but not all risks can be eliminated.
Paying attention to what your kids do while gaming and helping them understand how to be safe online is significant.
Depictions of war, terrorism, and mature themes
Call of Duty tackles serious and mature stories and issues. It examines how war, terrorism, political conflicts, and moral decisions influence crime. A few missions incorporate torture, mistreatment of prisoners, and markers of collateral damage.
It is essential for the game to accurately portray war as it is, which includes its dark and rough aspects. Some of these scenes can be upsetting or difficult to understand for younger viewers.
The treatment of these serious topics requires people to be emotionally mature. Parents must consider whether their child understands these concepts sufficiently.
How to make Call of Duty kid-friendly?
Even though Call of Duty age rating is 17 and up, parents can take some measures to protect their kids when they play.
To make COD safer on PS5, follow these steps:
- Launch the console and go to COD.
- Press the PlayStation button on the controller.
- Go to sound.
- Mute game voice chat.
Now, your child won’t have to worry about cyberbullies or any stranger who is being “too friendly” within COD. Here are a couple more things you can do:
- In-game parental controls: Using CoD’s Settings, Parents can turn off voice chat, restrict multiplayer, or hide specific content.
- Console parental controls: Utilize the console’s Parental Control options to set age limits, online activity restrictions, and playtime limits.
- Rules & boundaries: Communicate to your child what is appropriate when gaming and interacting online. Promote behavior that shows care and respect for others while playing.
- Gameplay supervision: At times, look over your child when they play to be sure they are safe from harmful elements or interactions.
This way of managing these issues makes games safer for people to enjoy.
Bonus: How can parents safeguard minors from inappropriate games?
Shielding children from inappropriate games is a broader concern in digital safety. Some basic advice for parents is here.
- Research before purchase: Check the age rating labels (ESRB or PEGI) and read reviews to learn about the game’s content.
- Use platform parental controls: Set age and content restrictions on all devices in your house that your child uses. Watch how much time is spent playing games or using apps, and have regular discussions about online behavior. Set reminders to check on the family and notice any problems when they are small. Lastly, choose a specific amount of time to use your console and limit gaming to maintain good habits.
- Educate about online risks: Ensure that kids understand the existence of online risks and explain that they should keep their private details confidential and report anything that makes them uncomfortable.
- Third-party monitoring apps: Download third-party monitoring apps, such as FlashGet Kids, for keeping kids safe in COD mobile. These apps watch Internet activity, social apps, screen content, and prevent unsafe messages.
Being involved helps parents direct their kids down the right path in the world of digital entertainment.
Wrap up
You need to be aware about the Call of Duty age rating if you have children. Violence, swearing, and challenging ideas make up the mature aspects of the game. Due to these reasons, the games have 17+ or 18+ ratings.
The details here will help parents decide if their child is ready for Call of Duty. Using parental controls and other specialized apps can also help support online safety. Furthermore, regularly discussing online gaming habits with teens is crucial.
All in all, explaining the content, online behaviors, and online safety encourages children to make better decisions. When parents are aware of what’s in Call of Duty, they can help their kids enjoy the game safely.
FAQs
Most often, CoD has M (17+) rating by the ESRB and a PEGI 18 rating in Europe, indicating that it contains mature themes.
No, because the movie is full of graphic violence, an abundance of strong language, and deals with mature subjects.
Due to its high level of violent scenes, gore, strong words, and adult themes.
The ability to turn off violence is not available, but you can use parental controls to turn off multiplayer and chat.
Sometimes COD can be offensive, because it features violence, swearing, and conversations with strangers.
