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Australia Declines To Assign Rating To Saints Row IV Again
Update: It has been brought to our attention that the Review Board's determination was based on appeal of the original decision. The version in question is the original, unedited code submitted, and initially refused classification, in June. A determination on the edited version of the game has not yet been issued publicly. We regret the error.
Original Story:
Deep Silver can't catch a break with the Australian Classification Board. Saints Row IV, which is due out in that country on August 23, has been "refused classification" for a second time. This means that the title cannot be sold or distributed in Australia.
Saints Row IV was originally denied classification in June, as the board cited "interactive, visual depictions of implied sexual violence which are not justified by context. In addition, the game includes elements of illicit or proscribed drug use related to incentives or rewards."
It was later revealed that a part of the reason the title was denied a rating was a particularly graphic weapon. Deep Silver made some adjustments and resubmitted. According the Review Board's decision (which is a full examination by a group different from those who made the original determination), "drug use related to incentives and rewards" is the reason for the refusal. Update: The version ruled on by the Review Board is the original code and not the edited material.
This concern was noted in the original Classification Board review. We've reached out to Deep Silver for comment.
Thanks, Haris.
[Source: Australian Classification Board]
Our Take (Updated)
All is not lost for Australians hoping to buy Saints Row IV in their home country. This decision issued today doesn't reflect a review of the edited content that Deep Silver has submitted. That decision will be coming shortly. Should any Australians wish to play the complete version, importing is always an option.
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