Damon Mcknight
Australia has a history of strict censorship laws regarding video games, with the Australian Classification Board (ACB) banning games that have been deemed inappropriate for sale in the country. Games that are refused classification by the ACB are banned from sale, hire, or public exhibition, with heavy fines and jail time as potential consequences. Games with violent content, sexual themes, and drug use are often refused classification, with some notable examples being Manhunt, Fallout 3, and Saints Row IV. Indie games that feature drug use seem to be the most commonly banned, while triple-A games are usually exempt. Many games have had to edit scenes, dialogue, and gameplay elements to be allowed for sale in Australia.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reason for ban | High-impact violence, sexual violence, promotion of illegal drug use, substance abuse, sexual content, inappropriate content for underage players, nudity, explicit content, promotion of tobacco or alcohol, promotion of ethnic, racial, or religious hatred |
| Games banned | Manhunt, Dark Sector, Hatred, The Bug Butcher, Reservoir Dogs: Bloody Days, Shellshock 2: Blood Trails, Fallout 3, Saints Row IV, Disco Elysium, Katana Zero, Postal 2, Rimworld, Hunter x Hunter Nen x Impact, South Park: The Stick of Truth |
| Classification | Games refused classification by the ACB are banned for sale, hire or public exhibition, carrying a maximum fine of $275,000 and/or 10 years in jail. |
| Possessing RC games | It is legal to possess RC games except in Western Australia and prescribed areas of the Northern Territory. |
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What You'll Learn
Games refused classification by the ACB
Australia has one of the strictest games rating boards in the Western world. Games refused classification by the ACB (Australian Classification Board) are banned for sale, hire, or public exhibition, carrying a maximum fine of $275,000 and/or 10 years in jail.
Before 2013, the ACB had no designation for games deemed too mature for audiences 18 or older, which led to many games being refused classification and banned from sale in the country. Games that have been banned in Australia include Fallout 3, Saints Row IV, Disco Elysium, Manhunt, Dark Sector, Hatred, and Postal 2. Fallout 3 was banned due to the use of drugs to gain positive effects, such as temporarily increased damage resistance. Saints Row IV was banned for its explicit sexual content. Manhunt was banned for its high-impact violence related to torture, and Dark Sector and Hatred were also banned for their violent content.
Games may still be refused classification if they are deemed to contain material unsuitable for an R18+ classification, such as depictions of sexual violence, the promotion of illegal drug use, or drug use related to incentives and rewards. For example, Katana Zero was banned because the main character suffers withdrawals from a drug called Chronos and must take more to keep experiencing the passage of time. Similarly, Hunter x Hunter Nen x Impact, a fighting game based on the popular anime, was refused classification by the ACB because drug use in the game grants benefits such as increased speed or strength.
It is important to note that it is legal to possess RC games in Australia, except in Western Australia and prescribed areas of the Northern Territory.
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Games with drug use as a core concept
Australia has strict laws regarding the classification of video games, with all media intended for retail display requiring review by the Australian Classification Board (ACB). Games deemed too inappropriate may be "Refused Classification" (RC), banning them from being sold and resulting in heavy fines if copies are found.
Games may be refused classification if they contain material unsuitable for the R18+ rating, such as depictions of sexual violence, the promotion of illegal drug use, and drug use related to incentives and rewards. Games with drug use as a core concept have been banned in Australia, including:
Disco Elysium: The Final Cut
While this game was initially banned, it later appealed the decision and is now available in Australia. The game's main character suffers from alcohol addiction and must confront his substance abuse issues throughout the story.
Katana Zero
This game features a main character who is experiencing withdrawal from a drug called Chronos and must continue taking it to perceive the passage of time. The inclusion of drug use as a core gameplay mechanic led to its ban in Australia.
Manhunt
This game was banned in Australia due to its high-impact violence related to torture and substance use. While it saw success in other markets, it was never released in Australia and remains banned.
Max Payne
In the Max Payne series, a substance called Valkyr is injected by the protagonist, resulting in vivid hallucinations. This game was likely banned in Australia due to its depiction of drug use and its incentive-based rewards system.
Fallout Series
The Fallout games feature a variety of fictional drugs called "chems," which have effects such as slowing down time, increasing strength, and boosting intelligence. While not explicitly banned for drug use, the Fallout series may have faced censorship or editing to comply with Australian regulations.
The inclusion of drug use in video games has been a controversial topic, with some games incorporating it more naturally than others. While the average age of American gamers is 35, drug references in video games can still influence younger players, leading to debates about the appropriate portrayal of drugs in interactive media.
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Games with sexual content
Games that have been refused classification and banned in Australia include Fallout 3 (2008), Saints Row IV (2013), Disco Elysium (2022), and Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number (2015). Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number was banned due to a scene of sexual violence involving the player character, which could be skipped at the beginning of the game.
In addition to these, the adult game No Mercy was banned in Australia, the UK, and Canada due to its extreme content, including incest, blackmail, and unavoidable non-consensual sex. The game's Steam page described it as a chance to become "every woman's worst nightmare" and to "never take 'no' for an answer." This description led to public outcry and a Change.org petition with over 13,000 signatures calling for its removal.
Another game that was refused classification and banned in Australia is South Park: The Stick of Truth. The game was initially banned due to the obscenity of certain scenes, but a censored version with a crying koala image was later released.
Furthermore, Negligee: Love Stories was not released in Australia due to explicit sexual content and nudity. This decision was made by Dharker Studios, who also withheld the game from several other countries, including China, Germany, Indonesia, and South Korea.
Australia's strict guidelines on age ratings and classifications for games have led to the banning of several titles with sexual content. These bans aim to protect younger audiences from inappropriate material, but they also highlight the challenges of navigating varying global standards for video game content.
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Games with violent content
Mortal Kombat, released in 1992, was the first game to be subject to the ACB's age rating system in Australia. Despite this, Australia was perceived to be more lenient with video game content than with films. For instance, a film with the M rating could depict nudity, sex, and drug use (provided they are not explicit), whereas games with similar content would be banned.
Games that have been refused classification (RC) and effectively banned in Australia due to violent content include Manhunt, which was banned for high-impact violence related to torture, and Fallout 3, which was deemed to promote illicit drug use. Other games that have faced bans include Saints Row IV, Disco Elysium, and Katana Zero, which all featured drug use to some extent.
It is worth noting that Australia did not have an R18+ rating for video games until 2013, which meant that many games were refused classification before this date due to the lack of an appropriate rating category. Games with violent content that may have fallen into this category include Dark Sector, Hatred, and The Bug Butcher.
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Games with explicit content
Australia has strict guidelines for the classification of video games, and any games deemed too inappropriate are refused classification (RC) and banned from sale and public exhibition. Games that contain explicit content, such as sexual violence, substance abuse, and the promotion of illegal drug use, are often refused classification and banned in Australia.
One such example is the game Manhunt, which was banned in Australia due to its use of high-impact violence related to torture. The game saw immense sales in other parts of the world but remains banned in Australia. Similarly, Fallout 3 was refused classification due to content that was judged to promote or encourage illicit drug use. The player could use drugs, including morphine, to gain positive effects, which led to the game being banned.
Games that involve underage characters in explicit situations are also banned in Australia. For instance, South Park: The Stick of Truth was banned because it featured an underage main character in a sexually explicit scene. A censored version was released in Australia, replacing the explicit scenes with a card of a koala crying and explaining what had been cut out.
Indie games that involve drug use seem to be the most commonly banned, while triple-A games are usually exempt. Games like Katana Zero, where the main character suffers withdrawals from a drug called Chronos, were banned because the drug use was core to the gameplay. Hunter x Hunter Nen x Impact, a fighting game based on the popular anime, was also refused classification due to drug use having a gameplay benefit, such as granting speed or strength.
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Frequently asked questions
Games are banned in Australia if they are deemed too inappropriate by the Australian Classification Board (ACB) and refused classification (RC). Games refused classification by the ACB are banned for sale, hire or public exhibition. Games that contain drug use, sexual violence, or the promotion of illegal drug use are often refused classification.
Some games that have been banned in Australia include Fallout 3, Saints Row IV, Disco Elysium, Manhunt, Dark Sector, Hatred, and Hunter x Hunter Nen x Impact.
If copies of banned games are found at the border, they will be seized, and the recipient may receive fines of up to A$110,000.
Yes, some games have successfully appealed their ban and are now allowed to be sold in Australia, such as Disco Elysium: The Final Cut and Katana Zero.
Games might be refused classification if they contain explicit content, such as nudity, sexual themes, or graphic violence. Games that promote or encourage drug use are also likely to be refused classification.
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