Lexi Webster
The survival horror game Outlast 2 was initially banned in Australia by the Australian Classification Board, which refused it classification and rendered it unsuitable for sale in the country. The game was deemed to contain content that dealt with matters of sex, drug misuse, crime, cruelty, and violence in a manner that offended the standards of morality, decency, and propriety generally accepted by reasonable adults. Specifically, the Board's report noted that the game featured scenes of implied sexual violence involving the main character, Blake. However, the ban was later overturned after a second review, and the game was approved for release with an R18+ rating, the second-highest rating in Australia.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reason for ban | The game was refused classification by the Australian Classification Board |
| Reason for refusal of classification | 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 to the extent that they should not be classified" |
| Specific reason | Implied sexual violence |
| Developer's response | The ban was due to a video file with alpha footage of the game being sent to the Australian Classification Branch by mistake. The final game did not contain this footage. |
| Date of ban | March 2017 |
| Date of reversal | March 2017 |
| Rating after reversal | R18+ |
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What You'll Learn
The game was refused classification by the Australian Classification Board
The Australian Classification Board refused to classify Outlast 2, effectively banning the game from being sold in the country. The Board ruled that the game's content was unsuitable for sale, specifically citing concerns about sexual violence. The game's developer, Red Barrels, could resubmit a modified version for classification, but it was unclear if they would encounter similar problems in other territories.
Red Barrels initially remained silent on the ruling, which came as a surprise given that the game's demo had received an R18+ rating. However, the developer later explained that the ban was due to a video file with alpha footage of the game being included in the submission to the Board. This footage was not representative of the final game and should not have been sent.
The Australian Classification Board's report noted that the game contained multiple scenes involving the main character, Blake, where sexual violence was implied. It stated that the game dealt with matters of sex, drug misuse, crime, cruelty, violence, and revolting or abhorrent phenomena in a way that offended against the standards of morality, decency, and propriety generally accepted by reasonable adults.
The decision to ban the game was later overturned following a second review, and the game was given an R18+ rating, allowing it to be released in Australia.
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It contained scenes of implied sexual violence
The Australian Classification Board initially refused to classify Outlast 2, effectively banning the game from being sold in the country. The Board's report noted that the game would potentially be considered for an R18+ rating "without the depiction of implied sexual violence." The game contained multiple scenes involving the main character, Blake, where sexual violence was implied.
The Board's decision was based on 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 developer of Outlast 2, Red Barrels, explained that the ban was due to a video file with alpha footage of the game being included in the submission to the Australian Classification Board. This video file was not representative of the final game and should not have been sent along with the game code.
Following a second review, the Australian Classification Board reversed its decision and gave Outlast 2 an R18+ rating, allowing the game to be sold in Australia. While the implied sexual violence scenes described in the report were not the only content that concerned the Board, they did state that "without the depiction of implied sexual violence", the game would have been considered for an R18+ rating.
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The game's developer, Red Barrels, submitted the wrong code
The survival horror game Outlast 2 was initially banned in Australia when it was refused classification by the Australian Classification Board. The game was deemed unsuitable for sale due to its content, which included implied sexual violence.
However, it appears that the developer, Red Barrels, submitted the wrong code to the Board. In their statement, Red Barrels explained that the original submission to the Australian Classification Branch contained both the final game code and a video file for reference taken from an Alpha version of the game. This alpha footage was not representative of the final game and should not have been included in the submission.
Red Barrels resubmitted the game with the correct code, and the Board approved it for release with an R18+ rating. This rating is the second-highest in Australia, indicating that the game is suitable only for adults.
The mix-up over the submitted code caused a delay in the game's release in Australia, but ultimately, the issue was resolved, and Australian fans could purchase the game. This incident highlights the importance of accurate and clear communication between developers and classification boards to ensure that games comply with the relevant guidelines and standards.
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The game's demo was given an R18+ rating
The demo for Outlast 2 received an R18+ rating in Australia, which was introduced in 2013. The R18+ rating is the second-highest rating, below the Australian equivalent of X-rated. The game was expected to be released in Australia on April 25/26, 2017, alongside Outlast Trinity, a physical collection of all three Outlast games.
The R18+ rating was given to the demo because it included graphic depictions of violence. However, the full game was deemed to have gone too far for the Classification Board moderators. The Board's report noted that the game would potentially be considered for an R18+ rating "without the depiction of implied sexual violence." The report also stated that the title contained multiple scenes involving the main character, Blake, where sexual violence is implied.
The game was ultimately given an R18+ rating and approved for release in Australia, with the developers, Red Barrels, stating that there will be only one version of Outlast 2 available worldwide. This decision came after a second review, in which the Board found that a mix-up had occurred, and the wrong code had been sent for review. Red Barrels clarified that the original submission contained a video file for reference taken from an Alpha version of the game, and its content was not representative of the final game.
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The game was banned in Australia in March 2017
The game Outlast 2 was banned in Australia in March 2017. The Australian Classification Board refused classification, effectively banning the game from being released in the country. The Board's decision was based on the game's content, which was deemed unsuitable for sale. The game was said 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 Board's report noted that the game contained scenes of implied sexual violence involving the main character, Blake. It is important to note that the decision to ban the game was not unanimous, and there were differing opinions on whether the content warranted a ban. The game's developer, Red Barrels, remained silent on the ruling initially, but later explained that the ban was due to a video file with alpha footage of the game being submitted alongside the final game code. This footage was not representative of the final game and should not have been included in the submission.
The ban on Outlast 2 in Australia sparked discussions about the country's video game classification system, which has historically been narrow in scope, leading to the banning of several significant games. The game's developer faced a dilemma: modify the game's content to meet the Board's standards or forgo the Australian market. Ultimately, Red Barrels decided to resubmit the game with amendments, and Outlast 2 was eventually approved for release in Australia with an R18+ rating, the second-highest rating possible. This resolution ensured that Australian fans could purchase the game, albeit with some delays.
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Frequently asked questions
Outlast 2 was refused classification by the Australian Classification Board, which effectively banned the game from being released in the country. The board ruled that the game's content was unsuitable for sale, specifically citing concerns about implied sexual violence.
The Australian Classification Board is responsible for rating and classifying films, video games, and other media to determine their suitability for different audiences. The board considers factors such as sex, drug misuse, violence, and other adult themes that may be inappropriate for younger audiences.
Yes, the ban on Outlast 2 in Australia has been lifted as of March 23, 2017. The game's developer, Red Barrels, submitted a new version of the game with modifications to address the concerns raised by the Australian Classification Board. The game has since been given an R18+ rating and will be released in Australia without any further modifications.
