The Australian Classification Board has refused to rate Silent Hill f, effectively banning the game in the country across several platforms. While Konami’s upcoming horror title has yet to receive an official release date, age ratings have started to roll in, confirming what many already expected — it will be a very graphic, mature, and potentially disturbing game. Australia’s ratings board has gone so far as to ban Silent Hill f, though it hasn’t specified why.
Earlier this month, Silent Hill f received an M rating from the ESRB and an equivalent 18+ rating in Japan. In doing so, the ESRB revealed just how intense the game’s horror elements can get, including characters being burned alive, characters getting portions of their face sliced off, and visible entrails, among other graphic elements. The Silent Hill series is no stranger to gore, so it’s not necessarily a surprise, but it does seem such elements may reach new heights in the latest entry.
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While some countries have responded to these elements by giving the game a mature rating, Silent Hill f received a Refused Classification label in Australia. That may not be an outright ban in name, but it stops Silent Hill f from getting a release in the country, as Australia does not let games enter the country or become available for sale without a rating. The Classification Board has also not revealed the reason behind its decision, but Konami has previously warned players that Silent Hill f includes torture and child abuse, which likely have something to do with the effective ban.
Australian Authorities Deny a Rating for Silent Hill f
The Australian Classification Board is somewhat notorious for giving games the Refused Classification label. Titles like Left for Dead 2 and Disco Elysium have been denied ratings in Australia, many of which are less graphic or disturbing than Silent Hill. Others, like Hotline Miami, received the ban only to get an official rating and re-release down the line. Something similar could also happen to Silent Hill f if regulators change their tune on it or the game releases a censored version in the country.
Given how other games have been able to appeal their ratings, the current Refused Classification label may not stay in place. While Silent Hill f has detailed its PC specs, it still hasn’t announced a release date, so there could be time for Konami to appeal the decision before launch. Of course, even if it does, there’s no guarantee that it will be able to persuade authorities to allow the game an Australian release.
In 1960s Japan, Shimizu Hinako’s secluded town of Ebisugaoka is consumed by a sudden fog, transforming her home into a haunting nightmare.
As the town falls silent and the fog thickens, Hinako must navigate the twisted paths of Ebisugaoka, solving complex puzzles and confronting grotesque monsters to survive.
Immerse yourself into Hinako’s world imagined by renowned author Ryukishi07, with entrancing music, including pieces by Akira Yamaoka, and beautiful visuals in a gripping tale of doubt, regret, and inescapable choices. Will Hinako embrace the beauty hidden within terror, or succumb to the madness that lies ahead?
Discover a new chapter in the SILENT HILL series, blending psychological horror with a haunting Japanese setting.
- Developer(s)
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Neobards Entertainment
- Engine
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Unreal Engine 5
- Steam Deck Compatibility
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Unknown
- X|S Optimized
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Yes
- Number of Players
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Single-player
