Facts about Game Censorship
- 08
Mortal Kombat's graphic violence directly prompted U.S. Congressional hearings in 1993, leading to the creation of a standardized game rating system the following year.
- 07
South Korea's Game Rating and Administration Committee rated Diablo II as 18+ in 2001, effectively banning sales to minors and triggering nationwide controversy despite the game's massive popularity in PC cafes.
- 06
Brazil's ClassInd rating system implemented in 1997 banned Hot Coffee mod content from Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas in 2005, making it the first country to legally restrict a game modification rather than the base title.
- 05
China's system of game censorship requires all titles to receive government approval before release, with no official rating board existing as of 2024.
- 04
Germany's USK rating system, established in 1994, has indexed over 4,000 games as of 2023, making it one of the world's most restrictive game censorship bodies for violent content.
- 03
In 2005, Australia's classification board refused to rate Left 4 Dead 2, forcing Valve to modify 50+ violent scenes before the game could be legally sold there.
- 02
Japan's Video Game Rating Organization established in 1996 refused to rate Manhunt 2 in 2007, effectively banning its sale in the country through self-regulation.
- 01
The Entertainment Software Rating Board established in 1994 uses a five-tier system ranging from Early Childhood to Adults Only 18+, influencing game censorship globally.