Konami's highly anticipated game, *Silent Hill f*, has encountered a significant hurdle in Australia, receiving a Refused Classification (RC) rating. This means that, at present, the game cannot be sold within the country. However, the RC rating was assigned by an automated tool rather than the Australian Classification Board itself, which suggests that this might not be the final verdict.

Konami does not handle its own distribution in Australia, and IGN has reached out to their third-party distribution partner for further comments on this matter.

The specific reasons behind *Silent Hill f*'s RC rating have not been disclosed yet. In Australia, since the introduction of an adults-only R18+ category for games in January 2013, games are typically refused classification for reasons such as sexual activity with a person appearing to be under 18, visual depictions of sexual violence, or linking incentives and rewards to drug use. A previous title in the series, *Silent Hill: Homecoming*, faced a similar issue in 2008 due to a high-impact torture scene. It was initially refused classification but later released with modified camera angles and received an MA15+ rating after the R18+ category was established.

It's worth noting that *Silent Hill f*'s RC rating was issued by the International Age Rating Coalition's (IARC) automated tool, which is used for mobile and digitally delivered games. The IARC tool operates through an online questionnaire where developers answer questions about the game's content, and it then automatically assigns ratings based on various countries' standards, publishing these decisions on Australia's National Classification Database.

In Australia, the IARC tool is applicable only for digitally distributed games, a system adopted in 2014 due to the overwhelming number of games released annually on platforms like the iOS app store. There have been instances where IARC's automated ratings have been higher than those given by human classifiers at the Australian Classification Board. Notable examples include *Kingdom Come: Deliverance* and *We Happy Few*, which were mistakenly reported as banned in Australia.

The IARC tool is free, which is advantageous for smaller publishers and developers. However, physical game releases must still undergo classification by the Australian Classification Board. If *Silent Hill f* is planned for a physical release in Australia, a formal submission to the Classification Board would be required. Additionally, the Board has the authority to override any ratings provided by the IARC tool.

In Australia, game publishers can employ staff as accredited classifiers or authorized assessors. Accredited classifiers, after completing training from the Classification Board, can classify games themselves, and their decisions are considered official. Authorized assessors, with similar training, can only recommend a classification to the Board, which then makes the final decision.

It remains uncertain whether *Silent Hill f*'s current RC rating will be upheld after further review. Meanwhile, this title marks the first *Silent Hill* game to receive an 18+ rating in Japan.