Silent Hill f Has Been Refused Classification in Australia

Konami's upcoming game, Silent Hill f, has been refused classification (RC) in Australia, meaning it cannot be sold there at present. However, this rating was assigned by an automated tool from the International Age Rating Coalition (IARC), rather than by members of the Australian Classification Board. Given past precedents, it's likely that this isn't the final decision.

Konami does not handle its own distribution in Australia; IGN has reached out to their local third-party distributor for comment. The specific reasons for Silent Hill f's RC rating haven't been disclosed yet. Since the introduction of an adults-only category (R18+) for games in Australia in January 2013, games are usually refused classification due to content involving sexual activity with someone appearing to be under 18, visual depictions of sexual violence, or linking incentives and rewards to drug use. In 2008, Silent Hill: Homecoming faced a similar issue due to a high-impact torture scene but was later released with modifications and an MA15+ rating after the R18+ category was introduced.

Silent Hill f's RC rating in Australia was determined by an online IARC tool, designed for mobile and digitally delivered games. This tool involves answering a questionnaire about the game's content, which then automatically assigns ratings based on the standards of participating countries. In Australia, this tool is used exclusively for digitally distributed games, adopted in 2014 due to the overwhelming number of games released on platforms like the iOS app store. There have been instances where the IARC tool has assigned higher ratings than those given by human classifiers. For instance, in 2019, Kingdom Come: Deliverance and We Happy Few were mistakenly reported as banned in Australia.

The IARC tool is free, which is particularly advantageous for smaller publishers and developers. However, physical game releases still require a manual review by the Australian Classification Board, which can override IARC ratings if it sees fit. If Silent Hill f is intended for physical release in Australia, it would need to be submitted to the Classification Board anyway.

In Australia, game publishers can employ accredited classifiers or authorized assessors. Accredited classifiers, after training from the Classification Board, can classify games whose decisions are treated as official. Authorized assessors, similarly trained, can only make recommendations to the Classification Board, which then makes the final decision.

At this stage, it's premature to determine if Silent Hill f's RC rating will be upheld after further review. Notably, Silent Hill f is the first in its series to receive an 18+ rating certification in Japan.