What a week and a half it has been for Outlast fans. Outlast 2 was initially banned in Australia for implied sexual assault, then got reclassified as R18+ by the Australian Classification Board. There was then a big lingering question as to whether or not any content had actually been changed between classifications, with conflicting statements emerging from the classification board and the Outlast developers.
Finally, we now know the specifics about why the game was originally refused classification and what changed for Outlast 2 to be reclassified as R18+ thanks to a press release from the Australian distributor of the game.
Within the press release it was stated that:
“The original submission of Outlast 2 sent to the Australian Classification Branch contained the final game code and a video file for reference taken from an Alpha version of the game. This video file should not have been sent along with the game code, as its content was not representative of the final game.”
“In the second submission, the same game code was submitted, with a video file reflecting the final game content. The game was then approved for release with an R18+ rating. There will be only one version of Outlast 2 available worldwide.”
The release also stated that no further comments will be made regarding the game.
So it appears, if everything can be believed, that the footage that got the game to be refused classification in the first place was a piece of content mistakenly submitted to the classification board that was never intended to be apart of the final product. Thankfully, this means that the version of the game we receive in Australia will be the same as the rest of the world, and that no content was cut as a way of achieving classification.
Outlast 2 will launch digitally on April 26th for PS4, Xbox One and PC. Fans can also pick up a physical copy of Outlast Trinity, that contains Outlast 2, the original Outlast, and the Outlast Whistleblower expansion on April 26th as well.
About the Author
Dylan Fewings
When he isn't studying at University, you can probably find Dylan absorbed in a JRPG, adding more albums to his record collection, or watching old school horror flicks with his cat.
