What age would you let your child have a PS4/Xbox one?

[Cotton123]

I’m thinking about getting my little brother a PS4 for Christmas (so he could play with his friends) but wasn’t sure what age most kids would have them

My son is 6 and is getting one for joint Xmas birthday. I’d say that’s a huge gift for a brother- so I’d make sure to check with your mum/stepmum that she is happy with that.

SIL got her son one at age 9, most his friends got one at that stage too.

My DS saved up for years (Christmas, birthday money etc) and finally bought an XBox One when he was nearly 13. I said he could have one when he could pay for it himself. It led to arguments, addiction, etc - but he is now 16 and threw it in the bin about six months ago as he finally came to realise that it was boring. Not sure how helpful this is, though!

Worth knowing, OP, that most XBox One games are 18+ (apart from PVZ and a racing car one). Think PS4 might be better, depending on your brother's age...

Ds got an Xbox one last xmas when he was 6. It might be worth finding out whether it's Xbox or PlayStation his friends are into. Round here it's mainly Xbox but may vary in different places I dont know.

Check it's ok with your brothers main carer, check what systems his friends have.

If you go ahead make sure that whoever sets up the Console puts on parental control settings.

Make sure this is done people worry about levels of violence in games but the actual real risk is letting young dc receive and send messages and speak to complete strangers online.

Lifelong gamer here of forty years. I let my DS have a console when he was ten and I also made sure it was in a communal area.

"Most" Xbox games certainly are not 18+ AstonMartini, looking through the 90 or so here they seem to cluster at 12. The Sony range has a basically similar spread. Nintendo have lower average age ratings than either, but even they have a couple of 18+. Basically there's something for everyone on any.

So the PEGI ratings are worth checking, and the PEGI site explains what the labels and warning flags mean - pegi.info/what-do-the-labels-mean

Oh, and I'd say 8ish earliest. Keep an eye on what they want to play - there's always someone at school pushing them to get Grand Theft Auto, the drug running and prostitute murder simulator.