Leslie Massey
Disco Elysium, a post-war murder mystery role-playing game, was initially banned in Australia due to its adult themes, including drug use, alcohol and drug misuse, crime, cruelty, and violence. The game was deemed to offend against the standards of morality, decency, and propriety generally accepted by reasonable adults. However, the ban was later overturned, and the game was given an R 18+ rating, allowing it to be sold in Australia with the restriction that only adults can purchase it. The Classification Review Board's decision considered the long-term consequences of drug use within the game and the absence of explicit drug-taking depictions.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Ban | March 2021 |
| Reason for Ban | The game was found to “depict, express or otherwise deal with matters of sex, drug misuse or addiction, crime, cruelty, violence or revolting or abhorrent phenomena" |
| Game Developer | ZA/UM |
| Classification | R 18+ |
| Current Status | Ban has been overturned |
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What You'll Learn
The ban was overturned in May 2021
The ban on Disco Elysium in Australia was overturned in May 2021, just two months after it was implemented. The Australian Classification Review Board reversed the ban, giving the game an R 18+ rating. This meant that Disco Elysium could now be sold in Australia, but only to adults.
The Review Board's decision was influenced by the fact that the game's depiction of drug use was ultimately negative, with long-term consequences for the player's progression. The game's developer, ZA/UM, formally challenged the original decision, bringing the issue to the Classification Review Board. The original ban was due to the game's depiction of drug use and the temporary benefits it offered the player. The Classification Board had ruled that the game should be refused classification, meaning it could not be sold in retail stores.
The game had been available in Australia for two years through the Steam online games store, but the developers' plans to launch the game on consoles meant that it had to be reviewed by the Classification Board. The game features alcohol and drug misuse and a plot that centres on crime, cruelty, and violence. The Classification Board ruled that the game offended "against the standards of morality, decency and propriety generally accepted by reasonable adults".
The ban on Disco Elysium sparked criticism of Australia's classification system for video games, with some arguing that it applies stricter rules to video games than to other forms of media. The federal government had launched a consultation reviewing the classification system in January 2020 but had not made any progress on the issue.
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Disco Elysium was refused classification in Australia
Disco Elysium: The Final Cut was refused classification in Australia by the Australian Classification Board (ACB) in March 2021. The game was deemed unfit for sale in retail stores due to its inclusion of adult themes, such as strong violence, drug use, and sexual content.
The decision to ban the game was based on the Games 1(a) clause, which states that games cannot "depict, express or otherwise deal with matters of sex, drug misuse or addiction, crime, cruelty, violence or revolting or abhorrent phenomena" in a way that offends "against the standards of morality, decency, and propriety generally accepted by reasonable adults." The game's depiction of drug use and the temporary benefits it offered to the player character was a significant factor in the ban.
The original PC version of Disco Elysium was still available to Australians on Steam, and the game's developers, ZA/UM, challenged the ACB's decision. As a result, the ban was overturned, and the game was granted an R 18+ rating by the Classification Review Board. The Review Board acknowledged the game's depiction of drug use and its negative long-term consequences, concluding that it did not promote drug use.
The controversy surrounding the initial ban and the game's critical acclaim may have contributed to increased interest in Disco Elysium among Australian gamers. The game is now available for purchase by adults in Australia, although it is not known when it will be stocked in stores.
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The game features drug use and adult themes
Disco Elysium features drug use and adult themes, which led to its ban in Australia. The game includes alcohol and drug misuse, with secret quests and achievements for taking drugs. The game's plot also centres on crime, cruelty, and violence. While drug use is not explicitly depicted, the game offers temporary benefits to characters who consume drugs. This depiction of drug use, along with the game's mature content, led to its refusal of classification by the Australian Classification Board.
The game's developer, ZA/UM, challenged the decision, and the ban was ultimately overturned. The Classification Review Board, a separate body from the Classification Board, assigned the game an R 18+ rating. This decision considered the long-term negative consequences of drug use within the game, which outweighed the short-term benefits. The Review Board also noted that drug use was not explicitly depicted, and the game provided clear disincentives for drug-taking behaviour.
The original decision to ban the game reflected the stricter rules applied to video games in Australia's national classification system. These rules have been criticised for treating video games differently from other forms of media, such as TV and movies, where drug use may be allowed. The federal government had launched a consultation to review this classification system, but no progress had been made at the time of the game's ban.
The game's complex narrative and artistic value have been widely acclaimed, and the ban generated a certain level of controversy. Despite the initial refusal of classification, the game can now be sold in Australia without impediment, although only to adults aged 18 and over.
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It received an R 18+ rating
Disco Elysium: The Final Cut was initially banned in Australia due to its adult themes, which include strong violence, sexual content, and drug use. The game was deemed to "depict, express or otherwise deal with matters of sex, drug misuse or addiction, crime, cruelty, violence or revolting or abhorrent phenomena" in a way that offended "against the standards of morality, decency, and propriety generally accepted by reasonable adults".
However, the ban was overturned in May 2021, and the game received an R 18+ rating. This means that only adults aged 18 and over can purchase and play Disco Elysium in Australia. The Classification Review Board explained that the game could receive an R 18+ rating because, although it features coarse language and drug references, it does not explicitly depict drug-taking, and it provides clear consequences for drug use. The main character, for example, is shown to suffer negative consequences due to prolonged drug use and battles alcoholism.
The game's developer, ZA/UM, formally challenged the Australian Classification Board's original decision, and the issue was brought under the purview of a separate body, the Classification Review Board. The game's depiction of drug use and the temporary benefits it offers the player's character was the tipping point for the original ban. However, the Review Board determined that the long-term consequences of drug use within the game outweighed the short-term benefits, and thus the game could be approved with an R 18+ rating.
The Australian classification system has been criticized for applying stricter rules to video games than to other forms of media, such as TV and movies. The chief executive of the Interactive Games & Entertainment Association, Ron Curry, stated that "games are treated differently, and the classification guidelines do not hide it". He also noted that the classification guidelines for games have not been updated despite government research to the contrary, and that "interactivity" is considered a determinant in classifying games but not in classifying films or publications.
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The Australian classification system has been criticised
The Australian classification system has faced criticism for its treatment of video games, with some arguing that it reflects outdated moral standards. The game Disco Elysium was initially banned in Australia due to its depiction of drug use, despite its acclaim and availability in other countries. This sparked discussions about the inconsistent application of rules across different forms of media.
The Australian classification system has been slow to adapt to the evolving digital landscape, particularly regarding streaming services and online content. The current system was established in the era of dial-up internet, and critics argue that it fails to account for the vast amount of content now available through modern platforms. The government has recognised the need for an updated classification framework, releasing the Stevens Review in 2020 with the intention to reform the National Classification Scheme. However, there has been a lack of progress and no formal response to the review, causing concern among industry stakeholders.
The Australian classification system has faced criticism for its potential to censor media by refusing classification. The Australian Classification Board (ACB) can effectively prevent media from being hired, exhibited, or imported into Australia by refusing to classify it. This power can be used to censor content that does not align with the accepted standards of morality, decency, and propriety. In the case of Disco Elysium, the game was initially refused classification due to its themes of drug misuse, crime, cruelty, and violence, which were deemed offensive to reasonable adults. Critics argue that this refusal to classify certain content amounts to censorship and that the classification system should be updated to reflect modern standards and perspectives.
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Frequently asked questions
Disco Elysium was banned in Australia but the ban has since been overturned.
The game was refused classification by the Australian Classification Board on the grounds that it "depict [ed], express [ed] or otherwise deal [t] with matters of sex, drug misuse or addiction, crime, cruelty, violence or revolting or abhorrent phenomena" in a way that offended "against the standards of morality, decency and propriety generally accepted by reasonable adults".
Disco Elysium is now rated R 18+ in Australia. This means that the game can be sold in physical format but only adults aged 18 and over can purchase it.
The ban was overturned after the game's developer, ZA/UM, formally challenged the decision. The Classification Review Board, a separate body from the Classification Board, reviewed the decision and found that the game's depiction of drug use was ultimately negative and provided disincentives for drug-taking behaviour.
