"Silent Hill f Banned in Australia"

Konami's eagerly anticipated game, Silent Hill f, has been refused classification in Australia, which means it cannot be sold in the country at this time. However, this rating was assigned by an automated tool rather than by members of the Australian Classification Board, suggesting that this may not be the final decision. Konami relies on a third-party distributor in Australia, and IGN has reached out to them for further insights.

The exact reasons for Silent Hill f’s Refused Classification (RC) rating have not been disclosed yet. Since the introduction of the R18+ category for games in Australia in January 2013, games are typically refused classification due to content involving sexual activity with individuals appearing under 18, depictions of sexual violence, or linking rewards to drug use. For instance, Silent Hill: Homecoming faced a similar fate in 2008 due to a high-impact torture scene but was later released with modifications and an MA15+ rating after the R18+ category was established.

What we know is that Silent Hill f's RC rating in Australia was issued by the International Age Rating Coalition’s (IARC) online tool, designed for rating mobile and digitally delivered games. The IARC tool operates by having applicants answer a series of content-related questions, after which it automatically assigns ratings based on the standards of participating countries. In Australia, this rating is then published on the National Classification Database.

In Australia, the IARC tool has been used since 2014, primarily for digitally-distributed games, due to the overwhelming number of games released annually on platforms like the iOS app store. It's worth noting that automated IARC ratings have sometimes been higher than those assigned by the Australian Classification Board. For example, games like Kingdom Come: Deliverance and We Happy Few were mistakenly reported as banned in Australia.

The IARC tool is free, making it particularly useful for smaller publishers and developers. However, physical game releases still require a rating from the Classification Board, meaning Silent Hill f would need a separate submission for a physical release in Australia. The Classification Board has the authority to override any rating provided by the IARC tool.

In Australia, game publishers can employ accredited classifiers or authorized assessors. Accredited classifiers are trained in-house staff whose decisions are officially recognized by the Classification Board. Authorized assessors, while also trained, can only recommend a classification, which the Board then reviews and finalizes.

It's premature to conclude whether Silent Hill f's current RC rating will stand after further review. Interestingly, this game marks the first in the Silent Hill series to receive an 18+ rating in Japan.