The Australian Classification Board is well known for its harsh decisions when it comes to allowing or disallowing certain games to go on sale. There are lists compiled which show the games that have been refused classification, and therefore sale, in Australia, of which the isometric RPG Disco Elysium is one. That is, until now. In a re-review of the game, the board has now decided to allow the game to go on sale in physical form with an R18+ age certificate.
In a recent document from the Australian government written just yesterday, it appears the country's Classification Board has seemingly had a re-think about whether outright banning Disco Elysium was justified. A new decision was reached in which the game, specifically the Final Cut version, would be allowed to go on physical sale with the new rating. The board cites coarse language and references to drugs as the reasons for the age rating.
Released in 2019, the game has received critical acclaim winning numerous awards, including Best Narrative, Best Independent Game, and Best Role-Playing Game. In 2021, Disco Elysium: Final Cut was launched which added new content, such as all characters now being voiced. However, it was seemingly this version which set alarms bells off for the Australian Classification Board who decided it was too offensive to go on sale in the country.
The Final Cut edition was denied classification in March of this year, with the Board indicating that the game did not fall in line with acceptable rating standards normally used when making such decisions. It seems as though, at the time, the Board took particular umbrage towards Disco Elysium's morally questionable content including the aforementioned themes of drugs. This was all despite the fact that the game was readily available in Australia through the Steam store. It was just physical copies, which have to be submitted for approval, which were not on sale.
Many gamers are already aware of just how strict Australia's censorship rules can be. Back in 2010, Left 2 Dead 2 went under review where it was forced to remove the blood and corpses before being allowed to go on sale. The board even said at the time that it never reverses a decision it's made. While plenty of people in Australia could still play digital copies of Disco Elysium, the fact that the country's censorship committee has overturned their decision for physical copies could be seen as a great day for fans of the game.
Disco Elysium is available now PC, with The Final Cut arriving March 30 on PC, PS4, PS5, and Stadia. Switch and Xbox Series X ports are planned as well.
Source: Eurogamer, Classification.gov.au