The Callisto Protocol has been canceled in Japan after what seemed to be a ratings dispute over the game.
On the official social media account for The Callisto Protocol, the developer wrote: ”We have decided to discontinue the Japanese version of The Callisto Protocol.
“We have determined that the game cannot pass the CERO rating in its current state and that changing the content will to provide the experience that players expect. We would appreciate your understanding in Japan.”
Refunds will be provided for those who have pre-ordered.
It has happened before where video games have cuts and edits performed on them over excessive violence. Gears of War, Call of Duty and Grand Theft Auto have all been affected by excessive violence edits.
As explained by Tokyo-based analyst Dr. Serkan Toto on twitter, Japan’s game censorship has gotten much stricter since CERO was established back in 2002.
“Games censored for nudity and violence in Japan include The Last of Us, Cyberpunk, Uncharted 1, Witcher 3, GTA V, etc,” he wrote. “Needless to say, censorship also affects home-made games, i.e., Resident Evil — when compared to the Western release.
“It is also important to understand that sometimes, Japanese games get 2 releases, one cut and one ’gory’ version. The gory version typically sells better. The problem is that the gory version, which usually carries CERO’s strictest ’Z’ rating for ages 18+, is ALSO censored when compared with the Western release.
“In other words, avoid the Japanese version of such games at all costs — they are always censored.”
Want more DZSH with you? Sign up for our newsletter today for fun games, updates, and more!
Zainah Yousef
Zainah Yousef is the author of The Fallen Age Saga and specializes in gaming, social media advice, and reviews. She's been writing all her life and she probably won't stop anytime soon.
