Perhaps one of the most exciting games on the horizon is The Callisto Protocol - led by the creator of the Dead Space series, Glen Schofield.
Unfortunately for Japan, it seems it won't get the chance to play this upcoming survival horror game - with developer Striking Distance Studios announcing it has decided to cancel the local release in this part of the world after the game did not pass the CERO ratings board classification process.
The developer decided against making any changes to the game, as it does not want to compromise the experience (here's the message, via VGC):
“We have decided to discontinue the Japanese version of The Callisto Protocol,” the game’s official social media account stated on Wednesday.
“We have determined that the game cannot pass the CERO rating in its current state and that changing the content will not provide the experience that players expect. We would appreciate your understanding in Japan.”
Tokyo-based video game analyst Dr. Serkan Toto, who highlighted the game's cancellation in Japan, noted in a series of tweets how classification in the country has become much stricter over the years since the founding of CERO in 2002 - even with homemade series like Resident Evil:
"CERO was founded in 2002 and has become stricter and stricter over the years. Games censored for nudity and violence in Japan include Last Of Us, Cyberpunk, Uncharted 1, Witcher 3, GTA V etc.
"...Needless to say, censorship also affects home-made games, i.e. Resident Evil - when compared to the Western release. It is also important to understand that sometimes, Japanese games get 2 releases, one cut and one "gory" version. The gory version typically sells better."
Although it seems like Japan will be missing out on The Calisto Protocol, the game will ship in all other parts of the world on 2nd December.
Will you be checking out this title on Xbox? Comment down below.
[source videogameschronicle.com]
Comments 18
Removed - unconstructive; user is banned
@Gamingforlife "Hentai games" aren't being sold on consoles in Japan, either.
Well I’m sorry that Japan doesn’t get to (easily) play this game but always thrilled to see a developer fight to keep their original vision intact.
@Gamingforlife This is nothing new. Japan has had very strict laws on violence in games and other media since a child committed several murders ("The Kobe murders") and it was deemed that there was too much violence in modern media.
Many games, movies and TV's are cut in Japan this isn't anything new e.g. Resident Evil, Last Of Us, Cyberpunk, Uncharted 1, Witcher 3, GTA V and Dead Space.
Usually dev's edit games for different markets but in this case the developers see the gore and dismemberment as crucial to their game. Savvy Japanese gamers will do better to play the import version.
@themightyant so what about games like koikatsu(pc) senran kagura (ps4) ... Beyonetta and many many ecchi games available in nintendo friendly happy family store?
@Gamingforlife It's just cultural differences. Generally people in the West are critical of Japan's skimpily clad and suggestive characters, especially when they look like minors. Whereas people in the East criticise how immune we have become to violence, drugs and many others things.
Not defending either btw.
Does the Japanese version of Dead Space have any dismemberment/gore?
@Gamingforlife Japan doesn't share the same views on sexuality as the US. Same way the US is much more liberal with depictions of violence.
In any case, take notice that you barely ever see actual sex scenes on japanese games. They have a very clear line they don't cross on mass consumption media.
Ah well classic Japan. I will now need to get it from overseas.
@themightyant people who commit murders, even kids has nothing to do with video games imo. I mean games and movies have an age rating for a reason but even if a kid does play violent games it’s his/her mindset that makes them commit murders, not the game! Not dissagreeing with ya, disagreeing with the powers that be!
@jordan1992 I mostly agree. But Japan has decided that there is too much violence in media and it normalises it. To be fair, it absolutely does, we aren't shocked by things that SHOULD shock us anymore. But that doesn't mean we will be murderers either.
But I also think we really don't know enough about how these sort of things impact children, especially those who may have some of those darker tendencies already. Just because 99.999% of people are fine with it, what does it do to the other 0.001%? Truth is we really don't know. Studies are inconclusive, mostly biased/agenda driven, not least it's almost impossible to test. Personally don't think we should be changing rules for the 0.001% but it's also a complex issue far deeper than a PureXbox post.
Sucks for Japan but kudos to Glen Schofield and the dev team for sticking to their vision and not giving in to the almighty dollar.
well there's another legal option by importing physical copies from other region... or maybe change xbox region forever...
@themightyant i dunno. I love violent movies an series, i love blood an guts. Watchin it doesn’t bother me at all but certain real vids i’ve seen that are graphic do bother me an make me wince an cringe a bit. Knowing it’s not real kind of numbs me to it. Love the saw films, but if i were to witness a man really saw his foot off with a blunt saw i’d def look away.
Clever marketing?
"Although it seems like Japan will be missing out on The Calisto Protocol,..."
They are purchasing the NTSC U/C version through Amazon. Even the Series X version charted on their 'Best Sellers' list. Also, the listing on the japanese Xbox store is still up, since it forwent the Cero rating in favor of the IARC one, instead. All they need to do now is acquire an Xbox.
The West (including Europe) has become prudish about nudity and sex, but we have had gory video games since the 90s, but now that they are more realistic than ever, they haven't softened that in any way to make up for the ultra-realism. When the enemies are human beings and not monsters, it's disturbing. I always wonder why brutal violence is more accepted than sexuality, it's unnatural.
Yeah not gonna lie, even though the game looks excellent, it looks absolutely photo realistic gory when they're killing humans. A personal turn off for me which is why I don't own the new MKXI game even though I know it has fictional characters. Just don't like watching people get their faces ripped off and brutally impaled personally haha. Censoring it is a bit of an issue, just let people buy it if they want to. They're adults. Add a new rating to distinguish it from Mature games & let the people that want to play it, play it.
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