Lyla Lindsey
Australia has a history of banning video games that are readily available in other countries. Until 2013, Australia had no R18+ rating for video games, meaning that games were either available to 15-year-olds or no one at all. This resulted in the banning of several high-profile international blockbusters, such as Grand Theft Auto III, which was deemed too inappropriate for those under 18 due to its violent and sexual content. Games that are refused classification by the Australian Classification Board (ACB) are banned for sale, hire, or public exhibition and can carry a maximum fine of $275,000 and/or 10 years in jail.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reason for ban | Depictions of sexual violence, promotion of illegal drug use, sexual assault, torture, and violence. |
| Games banned | Manhunt, Grand Theft Auto III, Disco Elysium, We Happy Few, Hotline Miami 2, Katana Zero |
| Classification | Games refused classification by the ACB are banned for sale, hire, or public exhibition. |
| Fine | A fine of up to $275,000 and/or 10 years in jail. |
| R18+ rating | Introduced in 2013, it allows games that would have previously been refused classification to be sold in Australia. |
| Current situation | The Australian government still treats video games as a child-centric medium, applying stricter rules than for other types of content. |
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What You'll Learn
Games refused classification by the ACB are banned from sale
In Australia, all media intended for retail display must be reviewed and rated by the Australian Classification Board (ACB). The ratings are enforced by law, and games refused classification by the ACB are banned from sale, hire, or public exhibition.
The ACB can refuse classification to games deemed too inappropriate, which bans them from being sold at retail and places them on the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service list of prohibited items. Any copies of such games found at the border will be seized, and the recipient may receive fines of up to A$110,000. The maximum penalty for selling banned games is $275,000 in fines and/or 10 years in jail.
Games may be refused classification if they contain material unsuitable for the R18+ classification, such as depictions of sexual violence, promotion of illegal drug use, or drug use related to incentives and rewards. For example, SYMPATHY KISS was banned in September 2023 due to implied sexual violence, and POSTAL 4: NO REGRETS was banned under the automated International Age Rating Coalition (IARC) Global Rating Tool.
It is, however, legal to possess RC games in most parts of Australia, except in Western Australia and prescribed areas of the Northern Territory. Games that are refused classification may be available for purchase in a censored or altered form.
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Games with sexual assault scenes are banned
Another example is "Hotline Miami 2", which was banned in Australia due to an explicit sexual assault scene. The game's publisher, Devolver, criticised the ACB for "stretching the facts" and claimed that players could choose whether or not to experience content alluding to sexual violence. However, the ACB's decision stood, and the game was not released in Australia.
The ACB has a history of intolerance towards violence in video games and has demanded cuts from titles such as "Saint's Row IV", "Grand Theft Auto IV", and "South Park: Stick of Truth". The ACB has also refused classification to at least four other video games in recent months, including "Manhunt" by Rockstar Games.
While the introduction of an R18+ rating for video games in 2013 reduced the number of banned games, games that depict sexual violence or promote illegal drug use are still refused classification. Games that feature explicit and realistic depictions of sexual activity and violence with a "very high degree of impact" are not permitted under the R18+ rating.
The Australian government has been criticised for treating video games as a child-centric medium, with classification guidelines that seem out of step with what is considered acceptable for film and television. Despite this, the ACB maintains its role in evaluating and banning games that are deemed inappropriate for the country's standards.
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Games with sexual content are banned
In Australia, all media intended for retail display must be reviewed by the Australian Classification Board (ACB). The ACB can refuse classification (RC) to a game that is deemed too inappropriate, banning it from being sold at retail and placing it on the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service list of prohibited items. Games that are refused classification may contain material unsuitable for R18+ classification, including depictions of sexual violence or the exploitation of young people for sexual purposes.
The ACB has been known to ban games with sexual content that some may find offensive or inappropriate. For example, the game RapeLay was banned worldwide due to its promotion of violence to compel a person to submit to sexual conduct, as well as the exploitation of young people for sexual purposes. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas was re-rated Adults Only and recalled by Rockstar Games due to a hidden sex minigame that could be accessed using a modification or cheating device. Similarly, Grand Theft Auto III was banned in Australia due to the ability to engage in sexual activity with and then be violent towards sex workers.
In 2015, Hotline Miami 2 was banned in Australia due to an implied sexual assault scene. The game was banned again in 2022 when a planned re-release bundle for Nintendo’s Switch platform was released. Negligee: Love Stories was not released in Australia due to explicit sexual content and nudity.
While the introduction of an R18+ rating for video games in Australia has reduced the number of games refused classification, it has not changed the types of games that are banned. Games with sexual content that are deemed inappropriate or offensive continue to be banned in Australia, even if they are readily available elsewhere.
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Games with drug use are banned
In Australia, all media intended for retail display, including video games, must be reviewed by the Australian Classification Board (ACB). Games that are deemed too inappropriate by the ACB are refused classification (RC) and banned from being sold at retail. Games refused classification by the ACB are banned for sale, hire, or public exhibition and carry a maximum fine of $275,000 and/or 10 years in jail.
Games may be refused classification if they contain material unsuitable for the R18+ classification, such as depictions of sexual violence, the promotion of illegal drug use, and drug use related to incentives and rewards. The incentive to take drugs in order to progress through the game more easily and the reward of an increase in the character's abilities are considered grounds for refusing classification.
One notable example of a game banned in Australia due to drug use is "Fallout 3". In 2008, Australian officials banned the sale of "Fallout 3" because it allowed players to use drugs to enhance their character's abilities, which was considered to be related to incentives and rewards. This decision sparked calls for the introduction of an R18+ rating for games, similar to that used for films.
Another game that faced scrutiny in Australia for its depiction of drug use is "Bioshock". In this game, players inject themselves with "plasmids" to gain special abilities. However, unlike "Fallout 3", "Bioshock" received an MA15+ rating, which sparked debates about inconsistent rating criteria.
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Games with high-impact violence are banned
Australia has a history of banning video games that are readily available in other countries. Until 2013, the highest rating a video game could receive in Australia was MA15+, meaning that games intended for adults were either available to 15-year-olds or no one at all. This resulted in the banning of several high-profile international blockbusters, including Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto III, which was deemed too inappropriate for those under 18 due to its depiction of sex workers and violence towards them.
In 2013, an R18+ rating for video games was introduced, allowing games that would previously have been refused classification to be sold in Australia. However, games may still be refused classification if they contain material deemed unsuitable for the R18+ classification, such as depictions of sexual violence, the promotion of illegal drug use, and drug use related to incentives and rewards. Games that have been banned for these reasons include We Happy Few, which was banned due to the centrality of drug use to the game's themes and mechanics, and Manhunt, which was banned for its use of high-impact violence related to torture.
The Australian government has been criticised for applying a stricter set of rules to video games than to other forms of media, such as film and television. This has been attributed to outdated notions of video games as a child-centric medium, despite the fact that the average age of video game players in Australia is 34 years old. There have been calls for the Australian government to overhaul the classification system and move away from the "moral panic" associated with video games.
While it is illegal to sell, hire, or publicly exhibit games that have been refused classification, it is generally legal to possess them (except in Western Australia and prescribed areas of the Northern Territory). This means that Australian gamers can often access banned games through alternative means, such as by purchasing them from digital storefronts based in other countries.
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Frequently asked questions
Australia has a history of banning video games that are readily available elsewhere due to their strict classification system.
All media intended for retail display must be reviewed by the Australian Classification Board (ACB). Games deemed too inappropriate by the ACB may be Refused Classification (RC), banning them from being sold.
Games that contain sexual content, drug use, or extreme violence are often refused classification and banned from sale in the country.
Manhunt, Grand Theft Auto III, Mortal Kombat, and Disco Elysium: The Final Cut are some of the popular games that have been banned in Australia.
While banned games cannot be sold or publicly exhibited in Australia, it is legal to possess them (except in Western Australia and prescribed areas of the Northern Territory). Australians can also access banned games through digital distribution on American or European digital storefronts.
