According to a press statement issued by the Entertainment Software Association on Saturday, major international gaming companies are requesting that the World Health Organization withdraw its classification of “gaming disorder” as a sickness.
Over the weekend, the World Health Organization (WHO) included gaming disorder in its 11th edition of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11). The sector had been waiting for this decision ever since the WHO revealed its plans last summer.
Now, a number of organizations—among them the Entertainment Software Association (ESA)—have issued a statement claiming that additional research is required before “gaming disorder” can be classified in this way. The Entertainment Software Association (ESA), Interactive Games & Entertainment Association, Interactive Software Federation of Europe, and Korea Association of Game Industry are the organizations supporting the initiative (K-GAMES).
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The international video game industry, which includes representatives from all of Europe, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, South Africa, and Brazil, called on World Health Organization (WHO) Member States to review their decision to include “Gaming Disorder” in the 11th edition of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) at an early date in a press release.
“The WHO is a reputable body, and its recommendations should be supported by regular, comprehensive, and transparent evaluations conducted by outside experts. The term “gaming disorder” is not supported by enough credible data to warrant inclusion in one of the WHO’s most significant norm-setting instruments.”
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