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Outlast 2 Will Be Released In Australia [UPDATE]

At last.

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[UPDATE] A press release sent today by Outlast 2's Australian publisher, 18point2, has now shed some light on the reasoning behind the game's eventual R18+ rating following a resubmission to the Classification Board. The provided statement reads as follows:

The original submission of Outlast 2 sent to the Australian Classification Branch contained the final game code and a video file for reference taken from an Alpha version of the game. This video file should not have been sent along with the game code, as its content was not representative of the final game.

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Now Playing: GS News Update: Outlast 2 Will Be Released In Australia

In the second submission, the same game code was submitted, with a video file reflecting the final game content. The game was then approved for release with an R18+ rating. There will be only one version of Outlast 2 available worldwide. These will be the final comments made on this release.

[ORIGINAL STORY FOLLOWS]

After being refused classification earlier this month, horror game Outlast 2 has been successfully re-classified and given the adult rating of R18+ in Australia.

An entry for Outlast 2 listed on the Australian Government’s Classification Board website has confirmed that on March 21st 2017, Outlast was given the R18+ rating, with warnings of “high impact horror themes, violence, blood, gore, and sex.”

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The ruling comes roughly a week after the game’s initial classification refusal, which stated that Outlast 2 was found to: “depict, express or otherwise deal with matters of sex, drug misuse or addiction, crime, cruelty, violence or revolting or abhorrent phenomena in such a way that they offend against the standards of morality, decency and propriety generally accepted by reasonable adults to the extent that they should not be classified."

In a report obtained by Kotaku, it appeared as if scenes of “implied sexual violence” were a significant factor in the board’s original decision to refuse classification.

It's unclear what caused the Classification Board to alter their original decision, but what we do know is that the contents of Outlast 2 were not altered in any way during resubmission, and that Australia will receive the same game as everyone else.

In a statement provided to Press-Start, developer Red Barrels confirmed: “Outlast 2 has been rated R18+ by the Classification Branch in Australia and will be released 26th April 2017. There will be only one version of Outlast 2 available worldwide.”

For a closer look at Outlast 2, check out Let's Play of the demo.

Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com

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hystavito

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Oh :)

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Avatar image for noones-my-name
noones-my-name

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I'm just happy theyre finally releasing outlast,whisteblower and outlast 2 all on disc as outlast trinity. Ive been dying to play these games but only download when i have to.

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alaannn

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Edited By alaannn

so everyones game is censored now

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Warlord_Irochi

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@alaannn: I thin you misunderstood the article completely.

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NaturallyEvil

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So just like Fallout 3, they probably quietly censored all versions to avoid making a separate one for Australia.

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Warlord_Irochi

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@NaturallyEvil: Which would mean a lot more work than only editing one. Highly doubt it.

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RS13

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@Warlord_Irochi: No it wouldn't. With digital versions, they just edit a file. Managing multiple files would be easier than editing one.

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Warlord_Irochi

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@RS13: Oh! this one has not physical version, right!
Well... let's hope that's not the case :(

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videogameninja

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Wait… so that stuff before wasn’t going to be in any version?

Well then… hmmm.

Give us the alpha game!!!!

-NOT HAPPENING NINJA APPROVED-

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Avatar image for Warlord_Irochi
Warlord_Irochi

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"The original submission of Outlast 2 sent to the Australian Classification Branch contained the final game code and a video file for reference taken from an Alpha version of the game."

Not sure about that, a rating board would provably ask about a loose file before refusing a rating. This sounds very weird.

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Dark_sageX

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Australia is the worst place for gaming.

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LTJohnnyRico

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@Dark_sageX: Pretty bad for Snakes & Spiders too ! But its a great place really and no better people on earth than the Aussies !

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DEVILTAZ35

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Edited By DEVILTAZ35

So they basically deliberately goaded the censorship board in Australia. Good on them. At least i know my mate will be happy in Tassie as he was looking forward to the game and now won't have to import.

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Warlord_Irochi

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@deviltaz35: You need to pay a lot for submitting a build to a board. Not really worth it.

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DEVILTAZ35

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Edited By DEVILTAZ35

@Warlord_Irochi: I was only joking apart from my mate in Tassie. I used to deal with the censorship board for films on a daily level as part of my job :).

The process at least back then was interesting. Though i did catch the execs having a round of computer golf and not working at all a couple of times.

They had an inhouse tournament going lol.

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Warlord_Irochi

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@deviltaz35: Oh I see :) Apologies then.

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se7en1989

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I find it funny how these governments think they should have the right to tell people what they can and cannot watch and or play....I dont understand that at all. They are trying to take the role of parents now I guess?

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Avatar image for deactivated-6040a23b61f7d
deactivated-6040a23b61f7d

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@se7en1989: Well someone has to considering most parents these days are too retarded not stop their kids from watching/playing something that is completely inappropriate for them.

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Utnayan

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This really needs VR support. After RE it's hard to go back to any non vr horror game.

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Utnayan

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@horrorfan12911: Ok good to know. I'll definitely be checking out an Outlast that comes out for PSVR.

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Warlord_Irochi

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Seems apealing worked this time.

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MentalRevolt

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Lol denied and then accepted with no changes. Wonder who profited on this one.

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kiloman_74

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Edited By kiloman_74

Oooh what's that's Australian chicks name again? (That'll get me into trouble!) the one that does the news? Can't wait for her opinion on all this.....?

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hystavito

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@kiloman_74: Heh, I was about to say she must have been responsible for this, as a joke of course :). Jess.

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videogameninja

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Good news for Australian gamers!

I'm glad they will be able to enjoy the developers vision the way it was intended it to be.

I think the extra controversy will also help fuel sales when the game comes out, at least initially.

Either way, this is good news for both gamers and Red Barrel.

-THAT'S NOT A KNIFE NINJA APPROVED-

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captainwonton

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Reasonable adults? Or old conservative men? I'd like to know if there are any young men inside those boards of classification

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Lordcrabfood

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@zero_juice: juice is not the only thing you possess very little of judging by your comments.

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kanekan-slaugh

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YES YES YES YES YES

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deactivated-5918d8aa3c41f

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Glad i live in the states and dont have to deal with this. I'll be picking this up day 1 on release with the Outlast Trinity pack

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LTJohnnyRico

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Edited By LTJohnnyRico

@trueassassin86x: Yeah glad to be in MericaLand too .. nothing wrong with good ol MericLand !!

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asnakeneverdies

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@trueassassin86x: You do have to deal with this, think of all the f*cked up sh!t we could all get to experience if countries like the United States weren't such big markets whose sensibilities need to be catered to for commercial success.

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Cherub1000

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All that did was boost publicity, oh well, Red Barrel must be happy. Looming forward to release day, or night. I plan to be behind the sofa!

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superbuuman

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Edited By superbuuman

Good R18+ gets used...did the old farts finally remembered AU had R18+ for video games now? :P

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