The Classification Board have rejected the upcoming Saints Row IV for an R18+ rating, making it the first game to be rejected since the introduction of the rating and, in the process, guaranteeing it a metric ton of free publicity and grey imports.
The Board’s decision rules that the game “includes interactive, visual depictions of implied sexual violence which are not justified by context” as well as “elements of illicit or proscribed drug use related to incentives or rewards”.
“Such depictions are prohibited by the computer games guidelines,” notes the Board, which was one of the concerns raised when the R18+ rating was finally passed in its somewhat watered-down form.
“Such depictions are prohibited by the computer games guidelines,” notes the Board, which was one of the concerns raised when the R18+ rating was finally passed in its somewhat watered-down form.
However, the Board notes that they have so far classified 17 games this year as R18+, which is nice. Volition and Deep Silver have not issued a comment, but a resubmission is sure to be on the cards.
What’s most interesting is that this implies Saints Row IV must have stepped up the violence and sexual content a considerable amount, as the previous game — which featured literally a room full of fist-shaped dildos — got away with MA15+.
Saint’s Row 4 refused classification in Australia
Originally Posted by Tydmors
