Silent Hill f Denied Rating in Australia

Konami's eagerly anticipated game, Silent Hill f, has encountered a significant hurdle in Australia, receiving a Refused Classification (RC) rating. This rating currently prevents the game from being sold within the country. However, it's important to note that this decision was made by an automated tool rather than the Australian Classification Board itself. Given historical precedents, there's a strong chance this won't be the final word on the matter.

Konami does not handle its own distribution in Australia, relying instead on a third-party partner, who IGN has reached out to for further insight. The precise reasons behind Silent Hill f's RC rating remain undisclosed. Typically, since the introduction of the R18+ category for games in Australia in January 2013, games are refused classification due to content involving sexual activity with minors, graphic depictions of sexual violence, or linking rewards to drug use. For context, the 2008 release Silent Hill: Homecoming was initially refused classification due to a high-impact torture scene but was later released with modifications and an MA15+ rating after the R18+ category was established.

It's worth highlighting that Silent Hill f's RC rating was determined by the International Age Rating Coalition (IARC) tool, a system used for classifying mobile and digitally delivered games. This tool involves an online questionnaire where developers answer questions about the game's content, leading to an automated rating that is then published on Australia's National Classification Database.

In Australia, the IARC tool, adopted in 2014, is exclusively used for digitally distributed games, a necessity due to the vast number of games released annually on platforms like the iOS app store. There have been instances where IARC's automated ratings have been more stringent than human assessments by the Classification Board, leading to misunderstandings about game bans, as seen with Kingdom Come: Deliverance and We Happy Few in 2019.

The IARC tool is particularly advantageous for smaller publishers and developers because it's free to use. However, all physical game releases still require a direct review by the Classification Board, meaning that if Silent Hill f plans a physical release in Australia, it would need to go through the Board regardless. The Classification Board has the authority to override any IARC-provided classification if it deems it necessary.

In Australia, game publishers can employ staff as accredited classifiers or authorized assessors. Accredited classifiers, after completing training from the Classification Board, can independently classify games, and their decisions are recognized as official. Authorized assessors, with similar training, 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 will stand after further review. Notably, Silent Hill f has already achieved an 18+ rating certification in Japan, marking it as the first in the Silent Hill series to do so.