The Xbox 360, a next-generation game console that Microsoft plans to release worldwide at the end of this year, will come equipped with an age restriction feature, it has been learned. If the age of children using the console is entered in advance, software that has an age restriction above that age cannot be viewed. The Xbox 360 is reportedly the first home game console to provide such a feature.

Microsoft officials said the console reads data from the DVD when the software is loaded, including the age restriction for that software. The age restrictions on the console follow the four categories classified by the Computer Entertainment Rating Organization (Japan) -- age 12 and up, age 15 and up, and age 18 and up, and all ages.

Restrictions will also reportedly be introduced in consoles in Europe and the United States to match specific areas. In addition to being able to restrict the viewing of DVD software, the Xbox 360 can also be programmed in advance to control access to voice-chat sites.