Konami's upcoming release, Silent Hill f, has encountered a setback in Australia, receiving a Refused Classification (RC) rating. This rating prevents the game from being sold in the country at present. However, it's important to note that this classification was assigned by an automated rating tool provided by the International Age Rating Coalition (IARC), rather than by members of the Australian Classification Board themselves. Based on previous instances, it's likely that this initial decision might not be final.
Konami does not handle its own distribution in Australia; instead, a third-party partner manages this aspect. IGN has reached out to this distributor for further comment on the situation.
The specific reasons behind Silent Hill f's RC rating have not yet been disclosed. In Australia, since the introduction of an adults-only R18+ category for games in January 2013, games are typically refused classification only if they feature sexual activity with minors, depict sexual violence, or link rewards to drug use. A previous entry in the series, Silent Hill: Homecoming, was initially refused classification in 2008 due to a high-impact torture scene but was later released with modifications and received an MA15+ rating after the R18+ category was established.
It's worth noting that the RC rating for *Silent Hill f* was determined through an online tool managed by the IARC, which is specifically designed for rating mobile and digitally delivered games. The IARC tool functions by having applicants answer a series of content-related questions, after which it automatically assigns ratings based on the standards of participating countries, including Australia, where the decision is then published on the National Classification Database.
In Australia, the IARC tool is used exclusively for digitally distributed games, a system adopted in 2014 due to the overwhelming number of games released annually on platforms like the iOS app store. There have been instances where these automated ratings have been higher than those assigned by human classifiers, as seen with games like Kingdom Come: Deliverance and We Happy Few in 2019.
The IARC tool offers a cost-free solution, which is especially advantageous for smaller publishers and developers. Nonetheless, all physical releases must still undergo review by the Australian Classification Board. If Silent Hill f is intended for a physical release in Australia, it would require an official submission to the Classification Board, which has the authority to override any IARC-assigned rating.
In Australia, game publishers can employ staff as either accredited classifiers or authorised assessors. Accredited classifiers, after completing training from the Classification Board, can independently rate games, and their decisions are considered official. Authorised assessors, with similar training, can only provide recommendations to the Classification Board, which then makes the final decision.
At this stage, it's premature to determine whether Silent Hill f's RC rating will stand following further review. Interestingly, this game marks the first in the Silent Hill series to receive an 18+ rating in Japan.
