The UK typically rates Pokemon games that feature more adult content at PEGI 12. The re-releases of Pokemon Red, Blue, and Yellow, for example, all hold the PEGI 12 rating. The original Pokemon Diamond and Pearl hold the rating too, but to the surprise of many fans, the game's upcoming remakes, Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, don't. Instead, they hold the lower rating of PEGI 7, which means they may not feature a certain mini-game that appeared in their original iterations.
It's worth noting that Nintendo made the rating of Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl available to the public back when it first announced the games in February. However, as most Pokemon fans were concerned with the remakes simply existing, it makes sense that many didn't notice. Months later, the detail has been brought to their attention by a tweet from Twitter user Eclipse, who posted a photo of Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl's box arts, which feature the rating.
Eclipse didn't post the tweet to point out the rating, but it became the topic of conversation when fans caught sight of it. Simply put, a PEGI 7 rating for Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl means that the games likely won't feature the Veilstone Game Corner, which hosts the slot machine mini-game that appeared throughout the first four Pokemon generations. Fans predict the loss because any game in the UK that includes gambling automatically receives a rating of PEGI 12 or higher.
Why Nintendo decided not to implement the slot machine mini-game remains a mystery, but it's not really a surprise. The third-generation Pokemon remakes, Pokemon Alpha Sapphire and Omega Ruby, left out the slot machines as well, and after the original Pokemon Diamond and Pearl, none of the new generation Pokemon games included it either. It seems Nintendo simply changed its mind about adding gambling features to a franchise more or less directed at kids, which makes sense.
That said, Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl are remakes of 15-year-old Pokemon titles. Since all video game remakes cash in on nostalgia, most of the audience looking forward to this game should at least be 20 years old, old enough to understand the risks that come with gambling in real life. Regardless, whatever Nintendo's reason, Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl likely won't feature slot machines. Hopefully, ILCA, the games' developer, will add something else to make up for it such as Battle Frontier.
Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl release on November 19th, 2021 for the Nintendo Switch.