(Image credit: Konami)
We’ve barely caught a glimpse of Silent Hill f yet, in the broader context, it already promises to be one of the most spine-chilling entries in the series. Being the first of its saga to receive an 18+ rating in Japan, the ESRB description vividly outlines grim scenes involving ‘faces ripped apart,’ ‘a character burned alive inside a cage,’ and ‘entrails and sinew displayed on serving platters.’ Its terrifying nature has prompted Konami to include a cautionary note on its game’s store page advising players, “If you feel uncomfortable at any point while playing, please take a break from playing or speak to someone you trust.”
The latest development to support the notion that Silent Hill f might redefine the boundaries of horror has come to light. The Australian government assigned the horror game a rating of ‘RC,’ signaling it ‘Refused Classification.’ Consequently, unless the game’s content undergoes modification, it will not see a release on Australian shores.
While the Australian government’s official website typically explains the reasoning behind a ‘refused classification,’ the entry for Silent Hill f cryptically states, “For further information regarding the reason for this decision, please contact us.” In pursuit of clarity, GamesRadar+ has reached out to the ratings board and will inform readers upon receiving any response.
The chilling facets detailed in the ESRB report and on the Steam Page mention themes like ‘gender discrimination, child abuse, bullying, drug-induced hallucinations, torture, and graphic violence.’ Such content likely informed Australia’s restrictive decision. The last time Silent Hill encountered such a prohibition down under was in 2008, when Silent Hill: Homecoming was initially banned but subsequently approved in a censored form a year later.
Notably, video game bans continue to occur with surprising frequency in Australia; most recently, the anticipated fighter Hunter x Hunter Nen x Impact faced a ban ahead of its release later this year. Stay tuned for more updates, weekly digests, community stories, and beyond.