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In March 2017, the Australian Classification Board refused to classify Outlast 2, effectively banning the game from being sold in the country. The Board stated that the game dealt with matters of sex, drug misuse, crime, cruelty, violence, and abhorrent phenomena in a manner that went against the standards of morality, decency, and propriety accepted by reasonable adults. Specifically, the game was deemed to contain implied sexual violence, with the Board noting that without this content, the game would have been eligible for an R18+ rating. However, it is worth noting that this decision was later reversed, and the game was ultimately given an R18+ rating and allowed to be sold in Australia.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Status | Banned, but the decision was later reversed |
| Reason for ban | Refused classification due to unacceptable depictions of implied sexual violence |
| Game developer | Red Barrels |
| Game genre | Horror, survival horror |
| Game release date | 25 April 2017 |
| Platforms | PC, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Mac |
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What You'll Learn
- The game was refused classification in Australia
- The Australian government's Classification Board stated the game offended standards of morality
- The game's developer, Red Barrels, remained silent on the ruling
- The game was unbanned in Australia after the wrong code was sent to the Board
- The game will be the same worldwide, with no content being cut or censored
The game was refused classification in Australia
The game Outlast 2 was refused classification in Australia by the Australian Classification Board. This effectively banned the game from being sold in the country. The game was refused classification under the Games 1(a) ruling, which is given to games that "depict, express or otherwise deal with matters of sex, drug misuse or addiction, crime, cruelty, violence or revolting or abhorrent phenomena in such a way that they offend against the standards of morality, decency and propriety generally accepted by reasonable adults to the extent that they should not be classified".
The specific reason for the refusal of classification for Outlast 2 was reportedly due to its unacceptable depictions of implied sexual violence. The game features multiple scenes involving the main character, Blake, where sexual violence is implied. The Australian Classification Board stated that without the depiction of implied sexual violence, the game would have been eligible for an R18+ rating.
The decision to refuse classification was made on March 15, 2017, and the game was scheduled to be released on April 25, 2017. This left the game's developer, Red Barrels, with the option to re-submit the game with amendments if they wanted to release it in Australia. Interestingly, the demo for Outlast 2 had previously received an R18+ rating, acknowledging the game's high impact violence, blood and gore, strong themes, moderate language, and mild nudity.
In an unexpected turn of events, it was later revealed that Outlast 2 would, in fact, not be banned in Australia. The decision to refuse classification was reversed, and the game was given an R18+ rating, the second-highest rating in Australia. The change of heart was attributed to a mix-up, as the wrong code had been sent to the Board for review. Red Barrels confirmed that the initial submission included a video file taken from an alpha version of the game that was not intended for the final release.
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The Australian government's Classification Board stated the game offended standards of morality
The Australian Classification Board refused to classify Outlast 2, banning its sale in the country. The game was slated for release in Australia on April 25, 2017, but the Board's ruling on March 15, 2017, prevented this. The Board stated that the game "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 manner that offended "against the standards of morality, decency, and propriety generally accepted by reasonable adults".
The Board's decision was based on a submitted version of the game that included alpha footage not intended for the final release. This footage featured content that resulted in the game being denied classification. The developer, Red Barrels, clarified that the wrong code had been submitted and that the final game would not include this content.
The Board's report specifically mentioned scenes of implied sexual violence involving the main character, Blake, as the reason for refusing classification. It is important to note that the report did not provide an exhaustive list of the content that led to the decision. However, the Board stated that without the depiction of implied sexual violence, the game would have been eligible for an R18+ rating.
The refusal of classification by the Australian Classification Board effectively banned the game from being sold in Australia, as the Board is a government agency, and their decision carries legal weight. This ban disappointed many Australian fans who were eagerly anticipating the game's release.
Following the initial ban, Red Barrels resubmitted a modified version of Outlast 2 to the Australian Classification Board. The Board ultimately reversed its decision, and the game was given an R18+ rating, allowing it to be sold in Australia.
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The game's developer, Red Barrels, remained silent on the ruling
The developer of Outlast 2, Red Barrels, initially remained silent on the Australian Classification Board's ruling that the game was refused classification and effectively banned in Australia. The ruling, issued on March 15, 2017, stated that the game "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 manner that went against the standards of morality, decency, and propriety accepted by reasonable adults.
Red Barrels did not immediately release a statement or comment on the ruling, leaving Australian fans of the highly anticipated horror game disappointed. The initial silence from Red Barrels may have been due to the unexpected nature of the ruling, as the Outlast 2 demo had previously received an R18+ rating in Australia, indicating that the full game's content was a step too far for the Australian censors.
It is important to note that the ban was not permanent, and Red Barrels eventually broke their silence. The developer explained that the issue was due to a mix-up where the wrong code was sent to the Australian Classification Board for review. The company stated that the original submission contained the final game code and a video file for reference taken from an alpha version of the game, which was not representative of the final product.
Following this explanation, the Australian Classification Board reversed its decision, and Outlast 2 was given an R18+ rating, the second-highest rating possible. Red Barrels also confirmed that Outlast 2 would be the same worldwide, with no content being cut or censored in any territory.
While Red Barrels initially remained silent on the ruling, their eventual response provided clarity and ensured that Australian fans could access the highly anticipated game.
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The game was unbanned in Australia after the wrong code was sent to the Board
The upcoming horror game Outlast 2 was initially banned in Australia in March 2017. The Australian Classification Board refused to classify the game, citing concerns over unacceptable depictions of implied sexual violence and other graphic content. This effectively banned the game from being sold and released in the country, much to the disappointment of Australian fans who were eagerly awaiting its launch.
The developer of Outlast 2, Red Barrels, initially remained silent following the Australian Classification Board's ruling. However, it was later revealed that the ban occurred due to a mix-up, as the wrong code was sent to the Board for review. Red Barrels issued a statement explaining that the original submission to the Australian Classification Branch included both the final game code and a video file for reference from an Alpha version of the game. This alpha footage featured content that had since been changed and was not intended for the final release.
Upon realizing this mistake, Red Barrels resubmitted the game with the correct code, and the Australian Classification Board reversed its decision. Outlast 2 was ultimately granted a rating of R18+, the second-highest rating in Australia, allowing it to be sold and played by adults in the country. This rating acknowledged the game's high-impact violence, blood and gore, strong themes, moderate language, and mild nudity.
The saga surrounding the ban and subsequent unbanning of Outlast 2 in Australia generated significant media attention and raised the profile of the game. Red Barrels affirmed that Outlast 2 would be the same worldwide, with no content being cut or censored in any territory. Australian fans of the horror genre were finally able to experience the highly anticipated game, which was released on PC, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4.
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The game will be the same worldwide, with no content being cut or censored
The upcoming horror game Outlast 2 was initially refused classification in Australia, effectively banning the game from being sold in the country. The decision was made by the Australian Classification Board, which ruled that the game's content was unsuitable for sale. 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 such a way that they offend against the standards of morality, decency and propriety generally accepted by reasonable adults". Specifically, the game was believed to contain scenes of implied sexual violence involving the main character, Blake.
However, it was later revealed that the rejection of Outlast 2 by the Australian Classification Board was due to a mix-up, as the wrong code was sent for review. The developer, Red Barrels, clarified that the submitted copy of the game was accompanied by a reference video featuring alpha footage of content that had since changed and was not intended for the game's final release. Following this clarification, the decision to ban the game in Australia was reversed, and Outlast 2 was given a rating of R18+, allowing it to be sold in the country.
Despite the initial ban in Australia, Red Barrels confirmed that Outlast 2 will be the same worldwide, with no content being cut or censored in any territory. This means that Australian fans will have access to the same gaming experience as players in other regions, ensuring consistency in the gameplay and narrative across all markets.
The uncensored nature of Outlast 2 in Australia is significant, especially considering the initial concerns about the game's content. By maintaining the integrity of the original game, Red Barrels ensures that players can fully immerse themselves in the horror experience without any alterations. This consistency in content also allows for a unified global gaming community, where players from different regions can share their experiences without variations in the game influencing their perspectives.
Furthermore, the decision to keep the game uncensored showcases Red Barrels' commitment to artistic expression and creative freedom. By refusing to compromise the game's content, the developer trusts that players can engage with mature themes responsibly. This approach empowers players to explore the game's narrative and confront its challenging subject matter, fostering a more thoughtful and reflective gaming experience.
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Frequently asked questions
Outlast 2 was initially banned in Australia in 2017 by the Australian Classification Board due to unacceptable depictions of implied sexual violence. However, the ban was lifted after the developer, Red Barrels, clarified that the offending content was from an alpha version of the game and not intended for the final release.
The Australian Classification Board refused classification for Outlast 2, citing depictions, expressions, or dealings with matters of sex, drug misuse, crime, cruelty, violence, or revolting phenomena that offended against accepted standards of morality, decency, and propriety. Specifically, the game was said to contain scenes of implied sexual violence involving the main character, Blake.
Following the initial ban, Red Barrels resubmitted the game with amendments to the Australian Classification Board and received a rating of R18+, allowing the game to be sold in Australia without any further changes or censorship.
