Nintendo Switch 2 Parental Control System Officially Certified in Germany

Since 2018, Nintendo has also had its console's age verification systems officially tested and approved by the Entertainment Software Self-Regulation Body (USK). The approval is valid for three years and must be confirmed by the Commission for the Protection of Minors in the Media (KJM) in accordance with German law. The KJM is the central supervisory authority for the protection of minors in private broadcasting and on the internet.

According to the USK, the KJM has once again confirmed the re-testing and certification of Nintendo's technical solutions. The test was also exciting because it was the first time that the Nintendo Switch 2's youth protection systems were tested and subsequently approved.

“In everyday family life with games, parents want guidance and practical support above all else. Well-designed parental control settings help to accompany and classify children's and young people's enthusiasm for games and strengthen trust, rather than imposing blanket bans. The USK's approval shows that there are already good and reliable solutions in the gaming sector that enable children to participate safely. Our tip for parents: it's best to set up the console together with your children and play along with them right away,” says Elisabeth Secker, Managing Director of the USK.

And Eva-Maria Sommer, Chair of the KJM, adds: “The review of Nintendo's parental control features shows that the system of regulated self-regulation works well in Germany. This is also thanks to the good networking between self-regulatory bodies and providers, which enables functional co-design of the issue. As a result, the systems offer parents guidance and practical support in everyday family life.” 

The recognition of the systems by the USK and the KJM is a consequence of the special nature of youth media protection in Germany. For historical reasons, there are different approaches to youth media protection for films and games marketed on data carriers and for digital products. This is due to different areas of responsibility. While the federal government is responsible for products on physical data carriers, purely digital products fall under the jurisdiction of the federal states. The USK, as the recognised youth protection agency for physical games in Germany, made early and ultimately successful efforts to also be recognised as the competent authority for the assessment of digital systems.