"Silent Hill f Denied Rating in Australia"

Konami's upcoming game, Silent Hill f, has been refused classification in Australia, indicating that it cannot be sold in the country at present. This RC (Refused Classification) rating was assigned by an automated tool from the International Age Rating Coalition (IARC), rather than by actual members of the Australian Classification Board. Given past precedents, it's likely that this decision could be revisited.

Konami does not handle local distribution in Australia directly, and IGN has reached out to their third-party distributor for comment. The specific reasons behind Silent Hill f's RC rating have not yet been disclosed. Since the introduction of an R18+ category for games in Australia in January 2013, games are typically refused classification only for content involving sexual activity with a person appearing to be under 18, visual depictions of sexual violence, or linking rewards to drug use. Previously, Silent Hill: Homecoming was refused classification due to a high-impact torture scene but was later released with modifications and an MA15+ rating.

Silent Hill f's RC rating was determined through the IARC's online classification tool, which involves a questionnaire about the game's content. This tool automatically assigns ratings based on the standards of participating countries, including Australia, and the decision is then published on Australia's National Classification Database. The IARC tool, adopted in Australia in 2014 for digitally distributed games, has occasionally assigned higher ratings than those given by the Australian Classification Board. This discrepancy was evident with games like Kingdom Come: Deliverance and We Happy Few in 2019, which were incorrectly reported as banned.

The IARC tool is free and advantageous for smaller publishers and developers. However, physical game releases still require a rating from the Classification Board. If Silent Hill f plans a physical release in Australia, it would need to be submitted to the Classification Board, which has the authority to override IARC's classification.

In Australia, game publishers can employ accredited classifiers or authorized assessors. Accredited classifiers are trained in-house staff whose decisions are officially recognized by the Classification Board. Authorized assessors, on the other hand, provide recommendations that the Classification Board may choose to accept or reject.

Currently, it remains uncertain whether Silent Hill f's RC rating will stand after further review. Notably, Silent Hill f has received an 18+ rating in Japan, marking it as the first in the series to achieve this certification there.