The Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association has spoken out in support of Atari’s decision to largely abandon boxed product and embrace online distribution.

The publishers’ body said that the company’s decision to move 90 per cent of its content online in the near future lent ‘further weight to PEGI’s cause’.

ELSPA is actively lobbying Government to embrace PEGI as the single games ratings system.

Paul Jackson, Director General at ELSPA, said:

“Atari’s decision to shift retail emphasis to online further emphasises why the British video game industry specifically favours the PEGI age ratings system.

"Only PEGI fully assesses all games content. It is designed specifically for interactive software. It understands games and their potential for infinite variations. That’s why it is backed by the British games industry.”

Atari boss David Gardner told MCV last week:

“We’re taking the first steps here. In five years, Namco Bandai will probably own the majority of it, it will no longer be our responsibility and Atari will be just an online company – within five years we’ll have 90 per cent online products.”