"Silent Hill f Banned in Australia"

Konami's upcoming title, Silent Hill f, has encountered a significant hurdle in Australia, being refused classification (RC) by the automated rating tool of the International Age Rating Coalition (IARC). This decision means that the game cannot currently be sold within the country. However, the rating was generated by an online tool rather than the Australian Classification Board members themselves, suggesting that this might not be the final verdict.

Konami does not handle its own distribution in Australia, relying instead on a third-party distributor, which IGN has reached out to for further comment on this matter.

The exact reasons behind Silent Hill f's RC rating have not been disclosed. Since the introduction of the R18+ category for games in Australia in January 2013, games typically receive an RC rating for content involving sexual activity with a person appearing to be under 18, visual depictions of sexual violence, or linking incentives to drug use. Historically, Silent Hill: Homecoming was refused classification in 2008 due to a high impact torture scene but was later released with modifications, receiving an MA15+ rating after the introduction of the R18+ category.

It's important to note that Silent Hill f's RC rating was assigned via the IARC's online tool, which uses a questionnaire to determine ratings based on each country's standards. In Australia, this tool is used specifically for digitally-distributed games, a practice adopted in 2014 due to the overwhelming number of games released annually on platforms like the iOS app store. There have been instances where the IARC tool's ratings have been higher than those assigned by the Australian Classification Board, leading to confusion, as seen with games like Kingdom Come: Deliverance and We Happy Few in 2019.

The IARC tool is free and particularly advantageous for smaller developers and publishers. However, all physical game releases still require a manual rating from the Australian Classification Board, which has the authority to override IARC decisions. If Silent Hill f plans a physical release in Australia, a submission to the Classification Board would be necessary regardless of the IARC's rating.

In Australia, game publishers can employ staff as accredited classifiers or authorized assessors. Accredited classifiers, after receiving training from the Classification Board, can classify games independently, with their decisions holding official status. Authorized assessors, on the other hand, can only make recommendations that the Classification Board may choose to accept or reject.

At this stage, it remains uncertain whether the RC rating for Silent Hill f will be upheld following further review. Interestingly, Silent Hill f has also achieved an 18+ rating certification in Japan, marking it as the first in the series to do so.