Silent Hill F lately re-emerged after a number of years of radio silence with a powerful trailer, showcasing a brand new chapter within the sequence that can be set in Japan circa the Sixties. Presently in improvement for PC, PS5, and Xbox Sequence X|S, there’s some confusion surrounding the sport and if it’s going to go on sale in Australia. Over the weekend, experiences of it being refused classification in Australia popped up, which might imply that Silent Hill F wouldn’t be allowed to be offered in that nation. However that may not be the complete story right here.
What has really occurred is that the Australian Classification Board has not rated the sport in any respect, and as noted by former GameSpot video producer Edmond Tran, the sport was submitted by Konami by means of the Worldwide Age Rating Coalition. It is a classification initiative constructed to streamline the acquisition of content material rankings for video video games by means of varied authorities. It’s extra nuanced than submitting and getting a recreation accredited, but as another user pointed out, being refused classification on the IARC doesn’t impression an area Australian launch and that is extra a case of the sport not assembly ACB necessities.
Acquired a response from the Classification Board on this one: “Silent Hill f just isn’t presently labeled as ‘Refused Classification’ in Australia.” The entry has been eliminated and a choice can be printed “forward of the sport’s launch”
— Edmond Tran (@edmondtran.bsky.social) March 24, 2025 at 8:03 AM
For Silent Hill F to be refused classification in Australia, it must comprise some excessive content material like directions on learn how to commit violence or depictions of a number of types of sexual assault. What we do know in regards to the recreation to this point is that Konami has confirmed quite a lot of delicate subjects can be explored within the recreation, together with gender discrimination, little one abuse, bullying, drug-induced hallucinations, torture, and graphic violence. Relying on how these themes are introduced, Konami may nonetheless have an uphill battle in getting Silent Hill F accredited on the market in Australia.
“This recreation is about in Japan within the Sixties and accommodates depictions primarily based on the customs and tradition of that point. These depictions don’t mirror the opinions or values of the builders or any people concerned,” Konami mentioned. “If you happen to really feel uncomfortable at any level whereas taking part in, please take a break from taking part in or communicate to somebody you belief.”
In different components of the world, Silent Hill F appears to be like to be a recreation that’s supposed for mature audiences solely. The ESRB has already given it an M Rating, because the group has described a number of disturbing scenes that can be current within the psychological-horror recreation.