Konami's highly anticipated game, Silent Hill f, has encountered a setback in Australia, where it has been refused classification, indicating that it cannot be sold in the country at this time. However, this RC (Refused Classification) rating was assigned by an automated tool rather than by members of the Australian Classification Board. Given past precedents, it's likely that this isn't the final decision on the matter.
Konami does not handle its own game distribution in Australia; instead, it relies on a third-party distributor, which IGN has reached out to for comment.
The specific reasons behind Silent Hill f's RC rating have not been disclosed yet. Since the introduction of the R18+ category for video games in Australia in January 2013, games are typically refused classification only if they contain sexual activity with a person who appears to be under 18, visual depictions of sexual violence, or incentives linked to drug use. Previously, in 2008, Silent Hill: Homecoming was initially refused classification due to a high-impact torture scene, but this was before the R18+ rating was established. It was later released with modified camera angles, receiving an MA15+ rating.
It's important to note that Silent Hill f's RC rating was generated by the International Age Rating Coalition's (IARC) automated online tool, designed for mobile and digitally delivered games. This tool involves a questionnaire about the game's content, and based on the responses, it automatically assigns ratings according to each country's standards. In Australia, these automated ratings are published directly to the National Classification Database.
In Australia, the IARC tool is used exclusively for digitally distributed games. It was adopted in 2014 due to the overwhelming number of games released on platforms like the iOS app store annually. There have been instances where IARC ratings have been higher than those assigned by human classifiers. For example, in 2019, games like Kingdom Come: Deliverance and We Happy Few were mistakenly reported as banned in Australia.
The IARC tool's free access is particularly advantageous for small publishers and developers. However, physical releases still require a direct assessment by the Australian Classification Board, which can override any IARC-assigned classification.
In Australia, game publishers can employ staff as accredited classifiers or authorized assessors. Accredited classifiers, after undergoing training from the Classification Board, can classify games themselves, with their decisions holding the same weight as those made by the Board. Authorized assessors, similarly trained, can only recommend classifications to the Board, which then makes the final decision.
At this point, it remains uncertain whether Silent Hill f's RC rating will be upheld following further review. Notably, Silent Hill f is the first game in the series to receive an 18+ rating in Japan.
