Konami's upcoming game, Silent Hill f, has been refused classification (RC) in Australia, which means it cannot be sold in the country at this time. However, this RC rating was assigned by an automated tool from the International Age Rating Coalition (IARC) and not by members of the Australian Classification Board. Given past precedents, it's unlikely that this will be the final decision.
Konami does not handle its own distribution in Australia, and IGN has reached out to their third-party distribution partner for a statement. The specific reasons behind the RC rating for Silent Hill f have not been disclosed yet. Since the introduction of the 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. A previous game, Silent Hill: Homecoming, was initially refused classification due to a high-impact torture scene before the R18+ rating was introduced. It was later released with modified camera angles and received an MA15+ rating.
It's important to note that *Silent Hill f*'s RC rating was assigned by the IARC's online tool, which is meant for mobile and digitally delivered games. This tool involves a questionnaire about the game's content, and based on the answers, it automatically assigns ratings according to each participating country's standards. In Australia, the tool's decision is published on the National Classification Database. The IARC tool, adopted in Australia in 2014, is specifically for digitally-distributed games due to the overwhelming number of games released on platforms like the iOS app store. There have been instances where IARC ratings have been higher than those assigned by the Classification Board, leading to confusion about bans, as seen with games like *Kingdom Come: Deliverance* and *We Happy Few* in 2019.The IARC tool is free, making it advantageous for smaller publishers and developers. However, physical releases still require a direct submission to the Classification Board, which can override the IARC's decision if it deems necessary. In Australia, game publishers can employ accredited classifiers or authorized assessors. Accredited classifiers are trained in-house staff whose decisions are official, while authorized assessors provide recommendations that the Classification Board may or may not accept.
At this point, it's too early to determine whether the RC rating for Silent Hill f will stand after further review. Notably, Silent Hill f has received an 18+ rating certification in Japan, marking it as the first in the series to achieve this.
