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RimWorld, a sci-fi colony management survival simulator, was initially banned in Australia due to its depiction of drug use, violence, and sexual content. The game allows players to perform inhumane acts, such as organ harvesting and the use of child soldiers, which led to its refusal of classification and prohibition from sale in the country. However, following a successful appeal by the game's creator, Tynan Sylvester, the ban was overturned, and RimWorld was granted an R 18+ rating in Australia, allowing it to be legally sold to adults with consumer advice regarding its high-impact themes and drug use.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Game | RimWorld |
| Game Developer | Ludeon Studios |
| Game Publisher | Double Eleven Limited |
| Game Genre | Sci-fi colony management survival simulator |
| Game Availability | Available on Steam since 2013 |
| Ban Status | Banned in March 2022, ban overturned in April 2022 |
| Ban Reason | Depiction of violence, drug use, and sexual content |
| Ban Applicability | Upcoming console ports and the existing Steam version |
| Ban Action | Refused classification, prohibiting release and sale |
| Ban Appeal | Successful, granted R 18+ rating with consumer advice |
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What You'll Learn
- RimWorld was banned in Australia due to its depiction of violence and drug use
- The game was refused classification by the Australian Classification Board
- RimWorld's ban was overturned following a successful appeal by its creators
- The game has been available to Australian buyers on Steam since 2013
- RimWorld is now rated R 18+ in Australia
RimWorld was banned in Australia due to its depiction of violence and drug use
RimWorld, a sci-fi colony management survival simulator, was initially banned in Australia due to its depiction of violence and drug use. The game allows players to oversee a space colony, providing them with a lot of freedom and a highly detailed simulation. While the game's characters are depicted as oblong and limbless blobs, and dead bodies are merely a different color, players can still perform a variety of inhumane acts, such as 'despining' prisoners and creating densitized child soldiers. The game also includes fantasy drug use, with regular drug use leading to negative consequences such as overdose, addiction, and withdrawal.
The Australian Classification Board refused to grant RimWorld a rating, effectively banning its sale in the country. This decision was made in anticipation of an upcoming "multi-platform" launch, which would have included console versions of the game. The refusal to classify the game was based on its depiction of "drug misuse or addiction, crime, cruelty, violence or revolting or abhorrent phenomena" that offended against accepted standards of morality, decency, and propriety.
The ban on RimWorld in Australia affected not only the anticipated console versions but also the long-available Steam version, preventing new purchases on Valve's digital store. This was an unusual retroactive application of the rating, as previous similar cases had not impacted the availability of PC versions of games. Despite the ban, Australians who already owned RimWorld on PC were allowed to keep it, and they could also purchase a DRM-free version directly from the developers or through GOG.
Following the ban, the creator of RimWorld, Tynan Sylvester, appealed the decision, and the Australian Classification Board agreed to review their ruling. The review process involved hearing from legal professionals and expert witnesses. Ultimately, the classification board unanimously decided to grant RimWorld an R 18+ rating in Australia, allowing it to be legally sold to adults with consumer advice regarding its high-impact themes and drug use. The board acknowledged that while the game included fantasy drug use, it also provided disincentives and negative consequences related to drug-taking behavior.
While the successful appeal of the ban meant that RimWorld could be sold again in Australia, it was given the highest possible rating, and the game's availability was still restricted to adults only. This outcome highlighted the sensitivity of the Australian Classification Board and their strict standards regarding the depiction of violence and drug use in video games.
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The game was refused classification by the Australian Classification Board
RimWorld, a sci-fi colony management survival simulator, was refused classification by the Australian Classification Board in March 2022. The board's 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, decency, and propriety accepted by reasonable adults. The game allows players to perform inhumane acts, such as creating densitized child soldiers who murder their parents and despinating prisoners to strip their organs. While the game's graphics are simple, with characters depicted as oblong and limbless blobs, the detailed simulation and freedom it provides can lead to dark outcomes.
The decision by the Australian Classification Board effectively banned the sale of RimWorld in Australia, prohibiting new purchases on Valve's digital store, Steam. This ruling also affected the long-available Steam version of the game, which had been accessible to Australian buyers since its Early Access period in late 2013. However, those who already owned the game could still play it, and Australians could still purchase a DRM-free version from the developers or through GOG.
The ban on RimWorld in Australia was not an isolated incident. Other video games, such as We Happy Few, Disco Elysium, and DayZ, have also faced similar fates due to their depictions of drug use. The developers of these games often opt to remove drug references worldwide rather than lose sales in Australia. The decision to ban RimWorld specifically targeted an upcoming "multi-platform" launch, indicating that the Australian Classification Board was concerned about the game's potential reach and impact on a wider audience.
Following the ban, Tynan Sylvester, the creator of RimWorld, appealed the decision. The Australian Classification Board agreed to review their ruling, hearing from legal professionals and expert witnesses. Ultimately, the board unanimously decided to grant RimWorld an R 18+ rating in Australia, allowing the game to be legally sold to adults with consumer advice regarding its high-impact themes and drug use. The board acknowledged that while the game included fantasy drug use, it also provided disincentives and negative consequences related to drug-taking behaviour.
The successful appeal of RimWorld's ban in Australia highlights the ongoing debate between creative freedom in video games and adhering to regional standards and regulations. While the initial refusal of classification sparked concerns among players and developers, the appeal process demonstrated a willingness to reconsider and find a balance between artistic expression and societal norms.
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RimWorld's ban was overturned following a successful appeal by its creators
RimWorld, a sci-fi colony simulation video game, was initially banned in Australia in March 2022. The decision was made by the Australian Classification Board, which refused to grant the game a rating, effectively prohibiting its release and sale in the country. This ban affected not only the upcoming multi-platform launch but also the long-available Steam version of RimWorld, preventing new purchases on Valve's digital store.
The ban was a result of the game's depiction of drug use and other sensitive themes. The Australian Classification Board is known for its strict sensitivity to certain issues in video games, and RimWorld's deep simulation allows for various dark scenarios, including drug-fuelled cannibalism. As a result, the game was deemed to "offend against the standards of morality, decency, and propriety generally accepted by reasonable adults".
Following the ban, the game's creator, Tynan Sylvester, and developer Ludeon Studios appealed the decision. Sylvester took to Twitter to announce that the Australian Classification Board had agreed to review their ruling, stating that they had legal professionals and expert witnesses helping their case.
On April 20, 2022, it was announced that the ban on RimWorld in Australia had been successfully overturned following the appeal. The Australian Classification Board unanimously decided to grant the game an R18+ rating, allowing it to be legally sold to adults in the country. The board acknowledged the game's inclusion of fantasy drug use but concluded that the game mechanics ultimately disincentivized drug-taking behaviour and portrayed negative consequences such as overdose, addiction, and withdrawal.
With the successful appeal, RimWorld joins a growing list of video games that have had their bans overturned in Australia, including We Happy Few and Disco Elysium. The decision highlights the ongoing discussions and evolving standards around video game content and its accessibility to players worldwide.
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The game has been available to Australian buyers on Steam since 2013
RimWorld, a sci-fi colony management survival simulator, was initially banned in Australia in March 2022. The game involves overseeing a space colony, with players able to commit a range of inhumane acts, including despin [n] ing prisoners, organ removal, and creating densitised child soldiers. The game also features drug use and themes of non-consensual sex.
The Australian Classification Board (ACB) refused to classify the game, effectively banning its sale. The ACB cited the game's depiction of "sex, drug misuse or addiction, crime, cruelty, violence or revolting or abhorrent phenomena" as reasons for the refusal, stating that the game offended "against the standards of morality, decency and propriety generally accepted by reasonable adults".
Despite the ban, RimWorld has been available to Australian buyers on Steam since 2013, during its Early Access period. The game's appearance on the ACB website in 2022 was likely due to an upcoming console port, which would have prevented new purchases of the game on Valve's digital store.
Following an appeal by the game's creator, Tynan Sylvester, the ban was overturned in April 2022. The ACB granted the game an R 18+ rating, allowing it to be legally sold to adults in Australia, with consumer advice regarding its high-impact themes and drug use.
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RimWorld is now rated R 18+ in Australia
RimWorld, a sci-fi colony management survival simulator, was initially banned in Australia due to its depiction of "sex, drug misuse or addiction, crime, cruelty, violence or revolting or abhorrent phenomena". The game allows players to undertake inhumane acts such as creating densitised child soldiers who murder their parents and 'despining' prisoners as a safety precaution to strip their organs. The Australian Classification Board refused to classify the game, effectively banning its sale in the country.
However, the ban was short-lived, as the game's creator, Tynan Sylvester, successfully appealed the decision. In April 2022, just a month after the ban, the Classification Board unanimously agreed to grant RimWorld an R 18+ rating in Australia, the highest rating that can be given. This means that the game can now be legally sold in the country, but only to adults. The board acknowledged that the game includes "high-impact themes and drug use" but recognised that regular drug use in the game leads to negative consequences such as overdose, addiction, and withdrawal.
The successful appeal by Tynan Sylvester adds RimWorld 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. Similar cases include We Happy Few and Disco Elysium. The decision to overturn the ban on RimWorld was well-received, with Tynan Sylvester expressing optimism for a positive outcome and PC Gamer reporting the news with the headline "RimWorld has been unbanned in Australia and is back on Steam".
While the R 18+ rating restricts the game's accessibility to adults only, it is a significant step forward from the initial ban, which prohibited all sales and purchases of the game in Australia. The new rating acknowledges the mature themes and content within the game while allowing Australian adults the freedom to choose whether to purchase and play it. This outcome aligns with the experience of other controversial games in Australia, such as Mortal Kombat 11, which is readily available in the country despite its violent content.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, RimWorld was banned in Australia in March 2022. The ban has since been overturned.
RimWorld was banned in Australia because of its depiction of "sex, drug misuse or addiction, crime, cruelty, violence or revolting or abhorrent phenomena".
The creator of RimWorld, Tynan Sylvester, appealed the decision and the Australian Classification Board agreed to review it. The board then granted RimWorld an R 18+ rating, meaning it can be sold to adults in Australia.
