Hotline Miami 2 publisher Devolver Digital has released a statement regarding the indie sequel’s Australian classification.
Hotline Miami 2 has been refused classification in Australia due to an implied rape scene, which falls outside the content guidelines for R18+, the highest possible classification in Australia. As a result, it can’t be legally sold or distributed in Australia.
The game could be edited for local release, but in a blog post, publisher Devolver said it is committed to developer Dennaton’s vision. It also said it won’t challenge the ruling, despite feeling the Australian Classification Board’s report contains inaccuracies.
“We are aware of the recent report published by the Australian Classification Board in regards to Hotline Miami 2 and have been in communication with them,” the publisher said.
“In response to the report itself, we are concerned and disappointed that a board of professionals tasked with evaluating and judging games fairly and honestly would stretch the facts to such a degree and issue a report that describes specific thrusting actions that are not simply present in the sequence in question and incorrectly portrays what was presented to them for review.”
Strong words. Devolver also pointed out that Hotline Miami 2 presents players with a choice to “avoid content that alludes to sexual violence”.
If you wish to see the scene in question and judge for yourself, as well as check out the censored version you’d see if you used the menu option that disables sexual violence scenes, hit the link to Devolver’s statement above.
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