Australia is known for having one of the most stringent video game rating systems globally, and it seems another eagerly awaited game will not be making its way to the country upon its release next year. Hunter x Hunter Nen x Impact, the fighting game inspired by the renowned anime, has been denied classification by the Australian Classification Board (ACB), effectively barring its sale in the nation. The board did not provide a specific reason for the decision, but considering the ACB's previous rulings on similar games, several potential causes can be inferred.
The primary suspected reason is the game's portrayal of drug use, which confers gameplay advantages such as increased speed or strength, or presents drug use in a favorable light. For instance, if a character's health is restored through narcotics, the game is likely to be refused classification (RC). Disco Elysium: The Final Cut initially faced a similar ban due to this issue, but the decision was later reversed after the ACB acknowledged that the game's narrative actually depicted 'negative impacts from depictions of drug use.'
Other possible reasons include explicit on-screen depictions of sexual violence and the sexualization of characters who appear to be under 18. South Park: The Stick of Truth was banned for these same reasons, as the game features an underage protagonist being anally probed by aliens. A censored version was subsequently released, replacing these scenes with a card depicting a crying koala explaining the omitted content.
Hunter x Hunter Nen x Impact is being developed by Eighting, a company closely associated with Nintendo, having contributed to titles like Pikmin 3 Deluxe, Pikmin 4, and Nintendo Switch Sports. The game is slated for release on PS5, Nintendo Switch, and PC. However, unless publisher Arc System Works opts to appeal the decision, Australian fans will unfortunately be left out.
Source link: https://www.gamespot.com
