Mexico proposes an 8% tax on violent video games, sparking global alarm.

Discussing the price of video games is always a sensitive topic. Players and industry experts know that any price increase generates immediate reactions. Now, Mexico has become the focus of global attention after announcing an unprecedented measure: an 8% tax on violent video games as part of the 2026 Economic Package.

The plan, presented by Claudia Sheinbaum 's government, seeks to include video games within the so-called "Healthy Taxes," along with sugary drinks and tobacco.

The official justification: "to discourage the consumption of violent films due to their supposed impact on health and safety."

If approved, franchises like Battlefield, Mortal Kombat, and DOOM would see an immediate price increase. The tax would apply to both physical and digital formats, including online gaming services.

The Treasury Department estimates that this tax could raise up to 183 million pesos , earmarked for public health. However, the gaming community already sees it as a revenue-raising strategy that could increase video game prices worldwide if other countries follow suit.

Sheinbaum explained that "it's not about banning, but rather inhibiting the consumption of violent video games."

His words were reminiscent of Andrés Manuel López Obrador's (AMLO) remarks in 2021, when he accused video games of promoting violence, racism, and crime among young people.

This discourse, which points to video games as a scapegoat, is worrying. For many, it's an attempt to divert attention from the country's real crime problems.

Scientific evidence suggests otherwise. International studies have shown that there is no direct correlation between playing Call of Duty, GTA, or other violent titles and an increase in crime.

If this were the case, each release of these series would immediately trigger an increase in crime, something that has never happened. Mexico already has rating systems that regulate access for minors, which makes this proposal even more controversial.

Beyond Mexico, the biggest fear is that this tax on violent video games could serve as a precedent in other countries. If governments in Europe or Latin America adopt it, prices could skyrocket and harm the entire industry.

Players have already called the measure "the worst possible idea" because it threatens to change the rules of a market where every peso counts.