Battlefield 3 rated M for violence and language

The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) has published its final rating summary for Battlefield 3.

As expected, the game has been given an M (Mature) rating, with the ESRB citing blood, intense violence and strong language as the primary culprits.

The ESRB’s final verdict:

This is a first-person shooter in which players assume the role of a U.S. Marine soldier who is on trial for treason. Players engage in fictitious military conflicts as the soldier’s story is told from a variety of perspectives (e.g., fighter pilots, tank commanders, Special Forces operatives). Players use sniper rifles, machines guns, grenades, and rocket launchers to kill enemy soldiers in frenetic firefights. The frequent combat is highlighted by realistic gunfire and large explosions; characters sometimes scream and emit large splashes of blood when shot. Players can also engage in hand-to-hand combat: repeatedly punching enemies in the face; stabbing soldiers to death with knives. In one sequence, a restrained character’s throat is slit (off-screen); in another, players shoot police officers to complete a mission objective. The words “f**k” and “sh*t” can be heard frequently in the dialogue.

Furthermore, the possibility of unrated user-generated content was mentioned.