(Image credit: Konami)
Despite the limited glimpses we’ve had of Silent Hill f, it’s shaping up to be one of the most terrifying entries in the series. Marking a series first, the game has received an 18+ rating in Japan. Descriptions from the ESRB paint a chilling picture with mentions of “faces ripped apart,” “a character burned alive inside a cage,” and “entrails and sinew displayed on serving platters.” These gruesome details prompted Konami to issue a disclaimer on the game’s store page advising players to take a break or talk to someone if they feel uncomfortable.
The recent development in Australia further supports the notion that Silent Hill f is intensely frightening. The Australian government has rated the game as ‘RC’ for ‘Refused Classification.’ This implies that without modifications to its content, it won’t see a release in the country. While the typical protocol involves providing reasons for such a decision, the government website currently states, “For further information regarding the reason for this decision, please contact us.” GamesRadar+ has reached out to the ratings board and will update with any response received.
Given the morbid descriptions listed by both the ESRB and the game’s Steam Page, which include themes like “gender discrimination, child abuse, bullying, drug-induced hallucinations, torture, and graphic violence,” it’s likely that one or several of these elements influenced Australia’s decision. Interestingly, the only other Silent Hill game to face a ban in Australia was 2008’s Silent Hill: Homecoming, later approved with censorship.
Video game bans occur surprisingly often in Australia; for instance, the much-anticipated fighter Hunter x Hunter Nen x Impact was barred in advance of its release later this year. Stay tuned for weekly digests, tales from beloved communities, and more updates.