Silent Hill f Has Been Refused Classification in Australia

Konami's highly anticipated game, Silent Hill f, has encountered a significant hurdle in Australia, where it has been refused classification (RC rating). This decision, however, was made by an automated tool from the International Age Rating Coalition (IARC), rather than by the Australian Classification Board itself. This distinction is crucial, as it suggests that the situation may not be final.

Currently, Konami does not handle its own game distribution in Australia, and IGN has reached out to their third-party distributor for a statement on this matter. The exact reasons behind Silent Hill f's RC rating have not been disclosed, but in Australia, games are typically refused classification for content involving sexual activity with minors, sexual violence, or incentives tied to drug use. It's worth noting that since the introduction of the R18+ category for games in January 2013, the classification landscape has changed significantly. For instance, Silent Hill: Homecoming was initially refused classification in 2008 due to a high-impact torture scene but was later released with modifications and an MA15+ rating after the R18+ category was established.

The IARC's online tool, used for rating Silent Hill f, is designed for mobile and digitally distributed games. In Australia, this tool was adopted in 2014 to manage the overwhelming number of games released annually, particularly on platforms like the iOS app store. However, there have been cases where the IARC tool has assigned ratings that are more restrictive than those that would be given by human assessors at the Classification Board. Notable examples include Kingdom Come: Deliverance and We Happy Few, which were mistakenly reported as banned in Australia.

The IARC tool's ratings are free, benefiting smaller publishers and developers. Yet, it's important to note that physical game releases must still be reviewed by the Australian Classification Board, meaning that if Silent Hill f is planned for physical release in Australia, it would require a formal submission to the Board, who could potentially override the IARC's decision.

In Australia, game publishers have the option to employ accredited classifiers or authorized assessors. Accredited classifiers, after receiving training from the Classification Board, can make official classification decisions on behalf of the Board. Authorized assessors can only provide recommendations, which the Board may or may not accept.

As it stands, it's too early to determine whether Silent Hill f's RC rating will be upheld after further review. Interestingly, Silent Hill f has already received an 18+ rating in Japan, marking it as the first in the series to do so.