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Valve investigating R18+ options for Left 4 Dead 2 in Australia

Laura Parker
By Laura Parker, Associate Editor

Publisher says it has been exploring the legal options surrounding the re-submission of Left 4 Dead 2 in Australia under the new R18+ adult classification.

Valve has responded to user questions on the Steam forums surrounding the release of an unedited version of Left 4 Dead 2 in Australia, following the introduction of an R18+ classification for video games.

Posting on the official Steam forums, Valve's Chet Faliszek told users the publisher has been exploring its options and investigating the legalities of what would be involved in releasing Left 4 Dead 2 in Australia with an adult rating.

"No need to flood us with emails," Faliszek wrote. "We have been exploring the options here and what we can legally do. We will have more information on this when we understand the issues fully and how we are moving forward but don't worry any cost associated with it doesn't worry us, this is something we want to do."

Left 4 Dead 2 was initially banned by the Australian Classification Board in September 2009 for "realistic, frenetic and unrelenting violence". Valve responded by re-submitting two versions of the game to the Board: the original, unaltered version and one with some modifications.

A modified version of Left 4 Dead 2 was later released in Australia. This version of the game removed decapitation and limb dismemberment.

Earlier this month, the Classification Board confirmed that the first title to receive the new R18+ rating in Australia will be Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge for the Wii U. The game will be published by Nintendo, but currently has no release date in Australia.

Laura Parker
By Laura Parker, Associate Editor

Laura Parker is the Associate Editor of GameSpot Australia. She loves adventure games, sparkly stuff, Trivial Pursuit, cake, Master Chief, earthworms, and rhetorical questions. She once stole a sandwich from Peter Molyneux.

25 comments
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AlexFili
AlexFili

A censored zombie game is a bit bad really. That's the whole point of zombies, horror, blood, guts...

Arbalon
Arbalon

I don't disagree with the game ending up R18+ Its a pretty gruesome game.

Tremblay343
Tremblay343

Does the thumbnail for this story have a resolution of 30 for anyone else?

iBuzz7S
iBuzz7S

Too little, too late. While I'm sure there are many gamers who will jump on the opportunity, a lot of gamers have already found a way or ways to get their hands on the game as it was intended to be played.

Regardless, it's great to see Valve, or any publisher for that matter, notice the new rating and try their luck with re-submitting a game which was once refused classification. Hopefully, more publishers do this.

Sefrix
Sefrix ranger like.author.displayName 1 Like

 "realistic, frenetic and unrelenting violence" sounds like an awesome way to advertise a game. 'Play the game an entire country banned for it's realistic, frenetic and unrelenting violence!"

Jshaw71
Jshaw71 like.author.displayName 1 Like

Yeah, Australia needs to lighten up, about mature rated games, I'll never understand their goverments view, but maybe that's a good thing...

Lazy_Marine
Lazy_Marine like.author.displayName 1 Like

Hmmm, whoever wanted to play left 4 dead in australia, already imported the non-aussie version from overseas or from stores selling smuggled units. Re-release won't make much money.

eriktkire
eriktkire

@Lazy_Marine but it will show those of us that got to the censored version some love.

I bet it will count as sales too.  Once the steam box comes out and a new audience of gamers unwilling to buy proper gaming PCs get a taste of their seasonal sales... L4D and Valve package deals are going to continue to sell  big, like they always seem to do.

DESTROYRS_F8
DESTROYRS_F8 like.author.displayName 1 Like

easy solution they did in the 90s:  Green blood.  Problem solved.

Hurvl
Hurvl

"Left 4 Dead 2 was initially banned by the Australian Classification Board in September 2009 for 'realistic, frenetic and unrelenting violence'" The reasons why it got banned are the same as the reasons why people like to play it, lol. I'm glad Australia has "grown up" and now realizes that there are people in their country with both a physical and mental age above 18.

PureDarkness17
PureDarkness17 like.author.displayName 1 Like

Why are you lot feeling sorry for Austalia, can you lot not read?, its saying they now have an 18+ rating and they're looking into getting the real version of L4D2 over to them now...this is a good thing for Aussie freedom.

Vaultboy-101
Vaultboy-101

Too late, we've already got Left4Uncut :P

hehe101
hehe101

Left 4 dead 2? wasn't this released in 2009? NEXT

bongsyas_23
bongsyas_23

it's okay Australians, there's always pac-man and minesweeper.

CaesarIIII
CaesarIIII

I feel sorry for that Australian guys :(

bahamut_au
bahamut_au

It's too old for the R18 to make much difference. Valve is much better off releasing a very quiet update that unlocks the violence, like Rockstar did with GTA4.

eriktkire
eriktkire

@bahamut_au that would be in violation of the rating system, that's why they're doing this.

And considering L4D always seems to sell really well during every big sale... you'd think everyone would own it by now.

spookysev
spookysev

Australia have eased up from what I have read - video games in Australia originally could not be rated R18+, and only up to MA15+.

R18+ rating for videogames and would be available by the end of 2012

crocmachine
crocmachine

Poor Australians. I hope they ease up.

This comment has been deleted

E-i-N-e
E-i-N-e like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 4 Like

@CivilizedPsycho If you don't care, why're you posting on the article, why not just ignore it?


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