Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

How old for PS4 games such as Grand Theft Auto/Call of Duty?

72 replies

BearAusten · 04/08/2021 19:11

I have a tendency to be over protective and I no longer trust my own judgement. I know my 11 year old son’s friends are playing Grand Theft Auto and Call of Duty. I looked at C of D and hated it. Thought it was awful. But friends and peers have all stopped playing things like Fortnite and Minecraft. Am I causing problems for him?

OP posts:
LindaEllen · 04/08/2021 19:48

@BearAusten

Why is this that though?
Why?! I mean, the basic premise of the games is shooting people through the heck for goodness sake - and that's only touching the surface.
LindaEllen · 04/08/2021 19:48

*head

TheSkatesOfCoachBombay · 04/08/2021 19:48

@BearAusten

We only caved with Fortnite when my ds was 10 during Lockdown. However, I have been made to feel guilty for not doing it sooner.
I wouldn't feel guilty it's official beating is 12 so I'd say he's lucky to have it 2 years early 😂
Nyala · 04/08/2021 19:49

I played GTA from about age 8. I turned out fine 🤷‍♀️

Nyala · 04/08/2021 19:51

In all seriousness, your house your rules. Maybe you could get some group play games for them all to play.

Fruityb · 04/08/2021 19:51

GTA is 18 for a reason. As for raping women? It doesn’t happen on there. Does. Not. Happen. Yes you can hire prostitutes but you don’t HAVE to - I’ve played all of them and never once done it and managed just fine.

But the language and violence aren’t appropriate. That said -it’s cartoon violence. The last of us is far more brutal and bloody.

minisoksmakehardwork · 04/08/2021 19:53

Lots of secondary kids play these games (work in a secondary school) and tbh, it shows in the kids who do. Their attitude towards socially acceptable behaviour is poor, there are issues with the sexualisation of female students and the players responses towards them.

CoD is probably the least worst of the two.

As a parent, they are banned from my house until my children reach the appropriate ages at the earliest. Preferably they're banned full stop. I also have younger children so as soon as the older ones reach age, they're likely to be influenced by their older siblings game play.

Sadly, my 9yo has already been excluded from his friendship group as they are all apparently playing these games!!! They are 9 years old!!!

If we cannot be responsible parents and not give into our children's peer pressure, what hope do we have of expecting them not to give in just to make things easy on them as they grow up? It's games now - what about alcohol or drugs?

IMO the sooner some parents grow a backbone and tell their kids the games are not suitable because of X and Y, the faster we will see improvements in behaviour and attitudes in society.

ToykotoLosAngeles · 04/08/2021 19:54

DH says GTA5 is very heavy on the "n" words and there's a level in CoD where you play as an undercover terrorist in a mass shooting. It's not just sex/violence, but the themes. I say 16.

minisoksmakehardwork · 04/08/2021 19:54

@Fruityb - just because you don't have to, doesn't mean kids won't. They're curious and want to know everything.

Roselilly36 · 04/08/2021 20:00

DS2 plays all these games, he is 18 now. I can’t remember what age he started playing, Minecraft to COD, then GTA probably around 14/15, as all his friends were playing it. He still plays gta. DS1 20 only plays FIFA but they are both nice lads. And unscathed by the experience.

victopai · 04/08/2021 20:00

In grand theft auto you can go to strip clubs and pay for dances. Shoot at people in all sorts of extreme ways. COD is still violent and graphic but follows a story of violence not so much free play. I'd say at least 15 depending on child

hennybeans · 04/08/2021 20:01

My DS is 14. He is not allowed 18 games and he has tried to say "all his friends are playing". But it's still a firm no from me. He mostly plays FIFA and seems to have a good selection of friends who also play that. He plays Minecraft with his younger siblings as well, but not with his peers.

DeflatedGinDrinker · 04/08/2021 20:02

Says on the box. 18

DeflatedGinDrinker · 04/08/2021 20:03

My 14 year old isn't allowed them. As they are 18.

HasaDigaEebowai · 04/08/2021 20:05

We allowed assassin creed, unchartered and tomb raider from 16. GTA is not coming into my house.

KaptainKaveman · 04/08/2021 20:07

How appalling. Imagine allowing your child to 'play' these violent, misogynistic games.

Clymene · 04/08/2021 20:08

@Nyala

I played GTA from about age 8. I turned out fine 🤷‍♀️
In your opinion.
UrAWizHarry · 04/08/2021 20:08

GTA is definately 18 for a reason.

Some COD games are ok if you pick them carefully for slightly younger kids, but I'd still approach with an big dose of caution - and you need to be able to get past the shocking treatment of women by the publisher of the COD games - which for me is enough to never buy one.

UrAWizHarry · 04/08/2021 20:08

@Nyala

I played GTA from about age 8. I turned out fine 🤷‍♀️
The newer ones are WAY worse than the cartoony early ones though.
Original poster
BearAusten · 04/08/2021 20:09

@minisoksmakehardwork

Lots of secondary kids play these games (work in a secondary school) and tbh, it shows in the kids who do. Their attitude towards socially acceptable behaviour is poor, there are issues with the sexualisation of female students and the players responses towards them.

CoD is probably the least worst of the two.

As a parent, they are banned from my house until my children reach the appropriate ages at the earliest. Preferably they're banned full stop. I also have younger children so as soon as the older ones reach age, they're likely to be influenced by their older siblings game play.

Sadly, my 9yo has already been excluded from his friendship group as they are all apparently playing these games!!! They are 9 years old!!!

If we cannot be responsible parents and not give into our children's peer pressure, what hope do we have of expecting them not to give in just to make things easy on them as they grow up? It's games now - what about alcohol or drugs?

IMO the sooner some parents grow a backbone and tell their kids the games are not suitable because of X and Y, the faster we will see improvements in behaviour and attitudes in society.

That is more or less what is happening with us. He is the oldest in the class. Some of his peers must have been playing GTA at 9.
OP posts:
Fruityb · 04/08/2021 20:22

I realise they can if they choose and some will choose. But it’s an 18 rated game! So they should never be given that chance.

Fruityb · 04/08/2021 20:24

And I’m sat here playing The Last of Us 2 and have blown someone up, thrown a Molotov and killed a dog. 18 for a reason! I have played GTA but they don’t really interest me that much anymore. There are better - Uncharted, Tomb Raider, the Lego games, the Spiderman games…

I’ve been a gamer since I was very young - was allowed to watch anything when I was a kid. Wouldn’t recommend it as I am still scared of Chucky… hence my son won’t be.

UrAWizHarry · 04/08/2021 20:25

"Some of his peers must have been playing GTA at 9."

Some of them might claimed to be allowed to play it. Doesn't mean they actually are of course.

I wouldn't let anyone under the age of 18 access to GTA5 without supervision. Around 15-16 I think is ok as long as you keep an eye on them.

DoTheNextRightThing · 04/08/2021 20:30

Halo is an Xbox exclusive game, that's why you've never seen it appear on the PS4. Assassin's Creed was one of my favourite game series. It's not too violent and the stories are brilliant but there is occasional sex scenes. Nothing graphic, depends on how you feel about that kind of stuff. Also the Assassins are the good guy, so you're not playing as just a reckless killer or anything.

It's difficult to know what to get kids at that age. So many games these days are for adults. There isn't really a middle ground between Minecraft and 18+ games.

DewDew83 · 04/08/2021 20:31

I'm very pro gaming, but 11 is far, far too young for gta.