Ruqayyah Snyder
RimWorld, a widely acclaimed sci-fi colony simulation video game, was initially banned in Australia in March 2022 due to its depiction of drug use, sex, crime, and violence. The Australian Classification Board deemed that the game offended against the standards of morality, decency, and propriety generally accepted by reasonable adults. However, following a successful appeal by the developer Ludeon Studios, the ban was overturned in April 2022, allowing the game to be sold and purchased in the country once again.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Country | Australia |
| Game | RimWorld |
| Developer | Ludeon Studios |
| Publisher | Double Eleven Limited |
| Date of Ban | March 2022 |
| Date of Ban Reversal | April 20, 2022 |
| Reason for Ban | Depictions of "sex, drug misuse or addiction, crime, cruelty, violence or revolting or abhorrent phenomena" |
| Reason for Ban Reversal | Successful appeal arguing that the game also showed negative consequences of drug use |
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What You'll Learn
- RimWorld was banned in Australia for its depiction of drug use
- The ban was later overturned following a successful appeal
- RimWorld was initially refused classification by the Australian Classification Board
- The ban affected the Steam version of the game, preventing new purchases
- RimWorld is a sci-fi colony simulation game developed by Ludeon Studios
RimWorld was banned in Australia for its depiction of drug use
RimWorld, a widely acclaimed sci-fi colony simulation game, was initially banned in Australia in March 2022. The Australian Classification Board refused to classify the game, which effectively banned it from being sold in the country. This decision was due to the game's depiction of "sex, drug misuse or addiction, crime, cruelty, violence or revolting or abhorrent phenomena" that went against the standards of morality and decency accepted by reasonable adults. Specifically, the issue with drugs in the game was that they had only positive effects with no negatives, which is considered to encourage drug use. The use of the term "Yayo", a common name for cocaine, was also noted as a reason for the ban.
However, the developers of RimWorld, Ludeon Studios, successfully appealed the decision, and the ban was overturned in April 2022. The game was reclassified as R 18+, the highest rating that can be given in Australia. The successful appeal argued that while drugs in RimWorld do have positive effects, they also show the negative side of drug use, including addiction and the associated health issues. RimWorld is now legal to buy again in Australia and is available on Steam.
The ban on RimWorld in Australia sparked discussions about the country's sensitivity to certain content in video games. Some people joked that the game was banned for its depiction of drug use rather than the atrocities committed, such as cannibalism and child soldiers. Others pointed out the irony of the situation, as more violent games like Mortal Kombat 11 were readily available in the country. This incident added RimWorld to a growing list of video games that were initially banned in Australia for their depictions of drug use but later unbanned following appeals, including We Happy Few and Disco Elysium.
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The ban was later overturned following a successful appeal
RimWorld, a widely acclaimed sci-fi colony simulation game, was initially banned in Australia in March 2022. The ban was imposed by the Australian Classification Board, which refused to grant the game a rating, effectively prohibiting its release and sale in the country. The decision was based on the game's depiction of sensitive themes, including "sex, drug misuse or addiction, crime, cruelty, violence or revolting or abhorrent phenomena" that allegedly offended "against the standards of morality, decency, and propriety generally accepted by reasonable adults."
However, the ban was later overturned following a successful appeal by the game's developer, Ludeon Studios. The game received an R 18+ rating in Australia, the highest rating possible, allowing it to be sold and purchased again. The successful appeal was based on the argument that while the game depicted drugs and their positive effects, it also showed the negative consequences of drug use, including addiction and long-term health issues.
The reversal of the ban was welcomed by many, including the game's creator, Tynan Sylvester, who had expressed optimism for a positive outcome. The unbanning of RimWorld added the game to a growing list of video games that were initially banned in Australia due to their depictions of drug use but later overturned on appeal, including "We Happy Few" and "Disco Elysium."
The RimWorld controversy highlights the ongoing debate between developers' creative freedom and adhering to regional content regulations. While some games opt to remove sensitive content or references to comply with local laws, as seen with "DayZ," others choose to appeal the decision, emphasizing the context and narrative intent behind the inclusion of such themes.
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RimWorld was initially refused classification by the Australian Classification Board
RimWorld, a widely acclaimed sci-fi colony simulation game, was initially refused classification by the Australian Classification Board in March 2022. The decision effectively banned the game from being sold in Australia. The Australian Classification Board refused to grant RimWorld a rating after its publisher, Double Eleven Limited, submitted the game for an upcoming "multi-platform" launch. This decision also affected the long-available Steam version of RimWorld, preventing new purchases on Valve's digital store.
The reason for the refusal was due to the game's depiction of "sex, drug misuse or addiction, crime, cruelty, violence or revolting or abhorrent phenomena" that went against the standards of morality, decency, and propriety generally accepted by reasonable adults. Specifically, the issue of drug use in the game was a significant factor in the Board's decision, as it is considered encouraging drug use in Australia. Made-up drugs are not restricted, but the use of the term "Yayo", a common name for cocaine, which is a restricted drug in Australia, was cited as a concern.
The game's developer, Ludeon Studios, successfully appealed the decision, and RimWorld's ban in Australia was overturned in April 2022. The game has now been classified as R 18+ in Australia, the highest rating that can be given. The successful appeal was based on the argument that while drugs in RimWorld have positive effects, they also show the negative side of drug use, including addiction and the potential for long-term health damage.
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$5.95
The ban affected the Steam version of the game, preventing new purchases
RimWorld, a widely acclaimed sci-fi colony simulation game, was banned in Australia in March 2022. The ban was due to the game's depiction of "sex, drug misuse or addiction, crime, cruelty, violence or revolting or abhorrent phenomena", which the Australian Classification Board believed went against the standards of morality, decency, and propriety accepted by reasonable adults.
The refusal to grant a rating by the Australian Classification Board had prohibited the game's release on an upcoming "multi-platform" launch, which included consoles. This effectively banned the game from being sold in Australia, despite it being long available for PC gamers in the country. The ban sparked jokes among players, who noted the irony of the game being banned for its depiction of drugs rather than the atrocities that could be committed within the game, such as war crimes involving children.
The decision to ban RimWorld was not an isolated incident, as Australia has a history of refusing classification to games that depict drug use, including We Happy Few and Disco Elysium. In some cases, developers have opted to remove drug references worldwide to comply with Australian laws, as was the case with Bohemia Interactive's DayZ.
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RimWorld is a sci-fi colony simulation game developed by Ludeon Studios
RimWorld features small-team tactical gunplay, with a cover system and nuanced algorithms for determining hit chances. The game also includes an intelligent AI tutor that adapts to the player's actions and provides unobtrusive guidance. Combat interacts deeply with the colony's layout, requiring players to strategically position their constructions to gain tactical advantages.
The game was temporarily banned in Australia in 2022 due to its depiction of drug use. The Australian Classification Board refused to grant RimWorld a rating, effectively prohibiting its release and sale in the region. However, the ban was later overturned following a successful appeal by Ludeon Studios, who argued that while the game depicted positive effects of drug use, it also showed the negative consequences, including addiction and long-term health issues.
RimWorld has received widespread acclaim for its engaging gameplay and unique features. It offers players endless creativity, strategy, and survival challenges in harsh environments. The game continues to be updated and expanded upon, with new content and DLC releases, ensuring a fresh and evolving experience for its players.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Australia did ban RimWorld in March 2022. The ban has since been lifted.
RimWorld was banned by the Australian Classification Board due to its depiction of "sex, drug misuse or addiction, crime, cruelty, violence or revolting or abhorrent phenomena". Specifically, the game's use of the word ""yayo", a common name for cocaine, was considered to encourage drug use.
No, RimWorld is one of several video games to be banned in Australia for their depictions of drug use, including We Happy Few and Disco Elysium.
