Silent Hill f Banned in Australia

Konami's highly anticipated game, Silent Hill f, has encountered a significant hurdle in Australia, receiving a Refused Classification (RC) rating. This classification means the game cannot currently be sold in the country. However, it's important to note that this rating was assigned by an automated tool from the International Age Rating Coalition (IARC), not by the Australian Classification Board directly. Given past precedents, it's unlikely that this will be the final decision on the game's availability in Australia.

Konami does not handle local distribution in Australia, and IGN has reached out to their third-party distribution partner for a statement on the matter. The specific reasons behind Silent Hill f's RC rating have not been disclosed yet. In Australia, games are typically refused classification for content involving sexual activity with individuals appearing to be under 18, depictions of sexual violence, or linking rewards to drug use. It's worth mentioning that in 2008, Silent Hill: Homecoming was initially refused classification due to a high-impact torture scene. However, this was before the introduction of the R18+ category for games in January 2013, which allows for higher levels of violence. Silent Hill: Homecoming was eventually released in Australia with modified camera angles in the contentious scene, receiving an MA15+ rating.

The IARC's automated rating system, used for Silent Hill f, is designed for mobile and digitally delivered games. It operates through an online questionnaire where developers answer questions about the game's content, leading to an automatic rating based on each participating country's standards. In Australia, this tool is used exclusively for digitally distributed games, a necessity adopted in 2014 due to the vast number of games released annually on platforms like the iOS app store. There have been instances where IARC ratings have been more stringent than human-assigned ratings by the Classification Board, leading to confusion and reports of bans, as seen with games like Kingdom Come: Deliverance and We Happy Few in 2019.

The IARC tool's free availability is particularly beneficial for smaller publishers and developers. However, for physical releases in Australia, a direct submission to the Classification Board is still required. The Board has the authority to override any classification provided by the IARC tool.

In Australia, game publishers can employ accredited classifiers or authorized assessors. Accredited classifiers are trained by the Classification Board and can make official decisions, while authorized assessors can only make recommendations to the Board.

While it's premature to predict the outcome of Silent Hill f's classification in Australia, it's noteworthy that this game marks the first in the Silent Hill series to receive an 18+ rating in Japan.