Konami’s upcoming entry in the *Silent Hill* franchise, *Silent Hill f*, has recently been denied classification in Australia. As a result, the game currently cannot be sold within the country. However, it's important to note that this Refused Classification (RC) rating was issued not by a human reviewer from the Australian Classification Board, but rather through an automated rating system under the International Age Rating Coalition (IARC). Given past precedents, this likely isn't the final word on the matter.
Konami does not directly distribute its games in Australia, and IGN has reached out to the company’s local third-party distribution partner for further clarification.
Why Is This Happening?
The specific reason behind *Silent Hill f*’s RC rating has not yet been disclosed. Since Australia introduced the R18+ rating for video games in January 2013, RC ratings are typically reserved for content involving sexual activity involving characters who appear to be under 18, explicit depictions of sexual violence, or scenarios where drug use is rewarded with gameplay incentives.
This isn’t the first time a *Silent Hill* title has run into classification issues in Australia. Back in 2008, *Silent Hill: Homecoming* was initially refused classification due to a high-impact torture scene. That decision came before the R18+ rating existed. Eventually, the game was released in Australia after developers adjusted camera angles in the problematic sequence, earning an MA15+ rating.
How Does the IARC System Work?
It’s worth noting that the RC rating assigned to *Silent Hill f* came from an online tool managed by the IARC — a streamlined system primarily used for mobile and digitally distributed games. The process involves developers completing an online questionnaire about their game’s content. Based on the answers, the IARC algorithm automatically assigns age ratings tailored to each participating territory’s standards.
In Australia, once the IARC system generates a rating, it is published directly to the National Classification Database without human review. While this system streamlines the classification process, especially for digital titles, there have been cases where IARC-generated ratings were more restrictive than those typically assigned by human reviewers at the Classification Board.
For instance, in 2019, both *Kingdom Come: Deliverance* and *We Happy Few* were erroneously flagged as banned in Australia due to inflated IARC ratings, sparking confusion until the situation was clarified.
What Does This Mean for Silent Hill f?
The IARC system was adopted in Australia in 2014, largely due to the sheer volume of mobile game releases—over 40,000 per year on iOS alone at that time—far exceeding the Classification Board’s capacity to manually rate each title. It provides a free, efficient way for developers, particularly smaller studios, to obtain ratings for digital releases.
However, physical game releases still require official classification by the Australian Classification Board. If Konami intends to release *Silent Hill f* physically in Australia, then a formal submission to the Classification Board would have been necessary regardless of the current IARC ruling. Importantly, the Board also has the authority to overturn any IARC-assigned rating if they find it unjustified.
Classifiers and Assessors in Australia
In Australia, publishers may employ either accredited classifiers or authorised assessors to help navigate the classification process. Accredited classifiers are trained internal staff whose decisions are treated as official rulings from the Classification Board. Authorised assessors can offer recommendations, but the final decision rests with the Board itself.
What Comes Next?
At this stage, it remains uncertain whether the RC rating for *Silent Hill f* will stand following any potential appeal or manual review. Notably, *Silent Hill f* marks the first game in the series to receive an 18+ rating in Japan, signaling a potentially mature tone that could explain some of the concerns raised during classification.
