Australian Ban on Indie Game "Katana Zero" Has Been Lifted

Australians all let us rejoice, for we can now legally play Katana Zero.

Katana Zero was released on Nintendo in the United States last month, with Australians initially expecting to get their hands on it mere days later.

However, the original mid-April release date came and went, and the pixelated side-scroller never landed in our stores.

Turns out, it was basically banned.

The game's publisher, Devolver Digital, admitted that Katana Zero had been submitted through the International Age Rating Coalition (IARC) system, which helps automates classification ratings internationally. IARC refused classification (potentially due to drug use within the game) meaning it could not be distributed in Australia.

Australia's Classification Board doesn't technically 'ban' games or movies, but when they refuse to classify them, or another automated tool (like IARC) refuses to classify them on their behalf, they cannot be sold or distributed locally.

At the time of the news, we reached out to the Classification Board for some clarification over what the reasoning might have been and whether they could overturn it. They've since confirmed that the ban has been reviewed and Katana Zero is now rated R18+ (only over 18s can purchase it), meaning it can be distributed throughout Australia.

In a statement provided to Student Edge, the Classification Board confirmed the ban was overturned due to the game's depictions of drug use being unrealistic.

"The player-controlled character is given special psychic and physical abilities via a fictional drug named Chronos that does not resemble any real-world drug," the statement read.

"The Guidelines state that 'interactive illicit or proscribed drug use that is detailed and realistic is not permitted', however, the highly stylised pixelated graphics and distant perspective lacks detail, reducing the impact."

There's still no word if and when Nintendo plans on releasing the game down under, but with the ban overturned, it's likely to be on the way soon.

Devolver Digital expressed their excitement to Student Edge with a "woooohoooo!" and said they hope the game will be released in the following weeks.

Header Image: Devolver Digital