Konami's much-anticipated game, *Silent Hill f*, has encountered a significant hurdle as it has been refused classification (RC) in Australia, meaning it cannot be sold there at this time. However, this rating was assigned by an automated tool rather than the actual Australian Classification Board members. Given past precedents, this might not be the final word on the matter.
Konami does not handle its own game distribution in Australia; instead, a third-party partner manages this. IGN has reached out to this partner for their perspective on the situation.
The exact reasons behind *Silent Hill f*'s RC rating remain undisclosed. Since the introduction of the R18+ category for games in Australia in January 2013, games are typically refused classification due to content involving sexual activity with a person appearing to be under 18, visual depictions of sexual violence, or incentivizing drug use. An earlier example, *Silent Hill: Homecoming* from 2008, was initially refused classification due to a high-impact torture scene, but this was before the R18+ rating existed. It was eventually released in Australia with modified camera angles, earning an MA15+ rating.
It’s worth noting that *Silent Hill f*'s RC rating was determined by an online tool managed by the International Age Rating Coalition (IARC), which is designed for mobile and digitally delivered games. This tool involves a questionnaire about the game’s content, leading to an automated rating tailored to each territory's standards. In Australia, these decisions are automatically published on the National Classification Database.
The IARC tool, adopted in Australia in 2014, is used for digitally-distributed games due to the overwhelming number of games released annually, especially on platforms like the iOS app store. There have been instances where IARC's automated ratings have been higher than those given by human classifiers at the Australian Classification Board. Notable examples include *Kingdom Come: Deliverance* and *We Happy Few*, which were reported to be banned in Australia despite no actual ban being in place.
The IARC tool is free, which is 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, a submission to the Board would be necessary regardless. The Classification Board has the authority to override any IARC-assigned rating if it deems necessary.
In Australia, game publishers can employ staff as accredited classifiers or authorized assessors. Accredited classifiers, after completing training from the Classification Board, can classify games officially. Authorized assessors, similarly trained, can only recommend a classification to the Board, which then makes the final decision.
At this stage, it's premature to determine if *Silent Hill f*'s RC rating will stand after further review. Interestingly, this game marks the first in the *Silent Hill* series to receive an 18+ rating in Japan.
