As someone who lives here, the US is beyond stupid when it comes to ratings of any kind.

I don't think it's the right rating. I think the game is nowhere near an M-rating game in terms of amount of blood, gore or advlt themes. It seems like a lose-lose situation for Zenimax, they neither got to put in all the stuff associated with an M-rating, nor they got the lower rating that supposedly helps sales.

As a player, i hope they embrace the M rating now that htey have it and take into account as they build future content and graphics. I loved the "raw and bloody" feel AoC had - chopping off heads and ripping out hearts. If you got it (the M rating), flaunt it!

Agreed and even on touchy subjects like the one involving Molag Bal and Lamae Beolfag it's not just there for it's own sake, it plays a part in Molag Bal's personality and makes him just that much more vile. I've always respected TES for their ability to tastefully touch on controversial subjects.

Meh in the end ratings mean close to nothing nowadays as already stated, kids with the age of 8-10 are decent internet users, by 12 they already know those warning mean nothing, and everything is accessible.

Ratings were safe when you bought cd's, dvd's for games/films, nowadays there is little of that, so they're worthless, except for the purpose of the law since it enforces it, but practically holds no value.

I will say, I don't think sixual assault should ever be introduced to a story for the sole purpose of making the villain seem more evil. This is something you saw all the time in 80's movies - the villain would sixually harass an employee, or threaten to [censored] the hero's girlfriend, and you'd know you were supposed to hate him. This is terrible writing because it reduces the event to a matter of good men vs evil men, with the woman's body as collateral damage. It's her [censored], and yet it isn't about her at all.

If you write about sixual assault, do it because you're writing about sixual assault. In Molag Bal's case, he represents violation, domination, and degradation. And, while I haven't played through that Skyrim DLC yet, I'm confident that the women's stories will actually be about them, and not the man that was/wasn't there to protect them. I suppose most of the major Daedra represent some existential mortal vulnerability or desire. That is much more interesting.

Very true, I should have worded that more clearly, and yup I can attest to the fact that Serana and her mother are both strong characters on their own accord.

Well formed comment, rare thing these days, and indeed true.

I say now that rating is M, ZOS should embrace it. Add sixual content, more blood, widespread drugs (i.e. Moonsugar), murders, etc. In other words make ESO even more dark. Also the M rating allows to delve into more touchy but deeper subjects.

You can remove all the parts except the one they obviously thought was the dealbreaker: sixual innuendos. Knowing that six exists is dangerous for those poor teens!

Seriously though, GW2 has a teen ESRB rating and the exact same points except that. Americans are so funny.

I also think they should go nuts with the given rating. Dibella temples please!

Well I like the idea that the game has already been given a M rating. It will deter the very young age group from playing. I also think that ZOS will be able to implement more mature themes, no i do not mean sixual themes, that could add more depth or darkness to quests.