Upcoming horror game Outlast 2 has effectively been banned in Australia. The classification board for that region has refused classification for the game which prevents its release in that region.
Outlast 2 banned due to sexual violence
The ruling from March 15th seems to focus on the fact that there is “implied sexual violence” in the game. This is the reason why the game has been refused classification: “depict, express or otherwise deal with matters of sex, drug misuse or addiction, crime, cruelty, violence or revolting or abhorrent phenomena in such a way that they offend against the standards of morality, decency and propriety generally accepted by reasonable adults to the extent that they should not be classified.”
Kotaku Australia has gained a little more insight on the decision. According to Kotaku, the decision was fueled mostly by several scenes which contain “implied sexual violence”. The article from Kotaku lists a particular scene which was given as an example of sexual violence in the game. According to the report, the game contains several scenes of sexual violence.
According to the report from the classification board, the game would be eligible for a R18+ rating if it didn’t contain the sexual violence. Bad news for fans of the first game then.
Outlast 2 will not have an Australian release. The only way the game will see an Australia release is if the developer decides to re-work the game to re-submit it to the classification board. Developer Red Barrels has not provided a comment on the matter just yet.
Hopefully the developer will be able to edit the scenes of implied sexual violence so the game can have an Australian release. We will provide you with updates as this situation develops later this year.
Outlast 2 will get a global release later this year on April 25th.
The release date was finally confirmed last week after a delay from its initial 2016 release date. Outlast 2 will be released for Windows PC, Xbox One and PlayStation 4.
