Mexico is approaching the establishment of a tax on violent video games following the approval of an 8% tax by the Chamber of Deputies as part of a broader fiscal package. This legislative proposal is now on its way to the Senate, indicating the potential for price increases and greater regulatory scrutiny in one of Latin America’s significant gaming markets.

According to a report by Human Rights Watch from 2025, Mexico continues to face “extremely high rates” of homicide and other violent crimes. In 2022, six cities in Mexico reported homicide rates exceeding 100 for every 100,000 residents. Although the national homicide rate has slightly decreased recently—now around 25 per 100,000—the rate of reported disappearances suggests that the actual situation regarding homicides may not have significantly changed. Most of the violence in the country is associated with drug cartels, which have proven challenging for the government to combat over the years.

Approval of the 8% Tax by Mexico’s Chamber of Deputies

While the connection between the video game industry and real-world violence is questionable, it has become an easier target for legislation. The Mexican Chamber of Deputies approved an 8% tax on violent video games on October 17, wherein the tax was included as part of Mexico’s 2026 Economic Package proposal, categorized under “health taxes,” which also cover increased taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages, tobacco, and gambling.

This proposal is not strictly a tax on violent games; it broadly targets all games rated C (18+) and D (adult-only) as designated by the Mexican Classification System for Video Game Content. The Treasury Department’s initial budget presentation for the law referenced “recent studies” that allegedly link the use of violent video games to higher aggression levels and adverse social and psychological effects, with no specific studies cited.

Future Steps for the 2026 Economic Package Proposal

The tax proposal will move to the Senate for discussion in the coming weeks. The Congress of the Union has a deadline of November 15 to decide on this legislation. It remains unclear from the current draft whether this tax will apply to both physical and digital sales, or how it will impact subscriptions, DLC, and microtransactions. If approved, the Senate’s version is expected to clarify these aspects.

The introduction of this violent video game tax would be added on top of Mexico’s current Value-Added Tax (VAT), which has been at 16% since 2010. The Treasury Department claims the measure aims to generate funds for individuals facing negative social and psychological effects attributed to video games.

Sources: Human Rights Watch, Insider Gaming