Konami's highly anticipated game, Silent Hill f, has encountered a setback in Australia, where it has been refused classification (RC rating). This means the game cannot be sold in the country at present. However, this rating was assigned by an automated tool from the International Age Rating Coalition (IARC), rather than by the Australian Classification Board itself. Given past precedents, it's likely that this isn't the final word on the matter.
Konami does not handle its own distribution in Australia, and IGN has reached out to their third-party distributor for a statement.
The exact reasons behind Silent Hill f's RC rating have not been disclosed yet. Since the introduction of the R18+ category for games in Australia in January 2013, games are typically refused classification only if they contain sexual activity with a person who appears to be under 18, visual depictions of sexual violence, or incentives tied to drug use. A previous Silent Hill game, Silent Hill: Homecoming, was initially refused classification in 2008 due to a high-impact torture scene. However, this was before the R18+ rating was introduced, which now allows for higher levels of violence. Silent Hill: Homecoming was eventually released in Australia with modified camera angles for the contentious scene, receiving an MA15+ rating.
It's important to note that Silent Hill f's RC rating in Australia was determined by the IARC's online tool, which is designed for mobile and digitally delivered games. This tool involves a questionnaire about the game's content, and based on the answers, it automatically assigns ratings according to the standards of participating countries. In Australia, the IARC tool's decision is published directly on the National Classification Database.
In Australia, the IARC tool is used exclusively for digitally distributed games, a practice adopted in 2014 due to the overwhelming number of games released annually on platforms like the iOS app store. There have been instances where the IARC's automated ratings have been higher than those assigned by human classifiers from the Australian Classification Board. For example, in 2019, games like Kingdom Come: Deliverance and We Happy Few were mistakenly reported as banned in Australia.
The IARC tool is free, making it particularly advantageous for smaller publishers and developers. However, all physical game releases must still be rated by the Classification Board. If Silent Hill f plans a physical release in Australia, a submission to the Classification Board would be required regardless of the IARC rating. The Classification Board has the authority to override any IARC-assigned rating.
In Australia, game publishers can employ staff as accredited classifiers or authorized assessors. Accredited classifiers are trained by the Classification Board and can make official classification decisions. Authorized assessors, while also trained, can only make recommendations to the Classification Board, which then makes the final decision.
At this point, it's premature to determine whether Silent Hill f's RC rating in Australia will be upheld following further review. Notably, Silent Hill f is the first game in the series to receive an 18+ rating in Japan.
