Then they send a video of footage from the actual game, including the most extreme examples of potentially offensive content and overall game play. When a publisher plans to release a game, they submit an application to the ESRB. The ESRB also requires that the raters have no connections to the game industry. These raters receive special training, and their identities are kept hidden to preserve the integrity of the rating process. Each game is issued a rating and specific content descriptors such as 'Strong Language' or 'Edutainment.'Ī minimum of three game raters are responsible for rating each game. The ESRB does not rate the quality of games, but tries to objectively describe their content and identify anything that is potentially offensive. The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) - the leading trade association of the video game industry - created the ESRB in 1994. The Entertainment Software Rating Board is a voluntary group that rates the content of video games, including console ( Xbox, PlayStation, et cetera) games and personal computer games.