Support NeoGAF

[adamsapple]

Still coming out in Japan on PC and Xbox tho.

『Gears of War: Reloaded』のマルチプレイ ベータ テストが予約購入者向けに今週末から開催 - Xbox Wire Japan

「Gears of War」シリーズ 20 周年を一緒に祝いましょう。第一歩として、新たな世代を「Gears」の世界に迎え入れます。

news-xbox-com.translate.goog

notice:

Due to regional rating restrictions and platform policies, Gears of War: Reloaded will not be released for PlayStation 5 in Japan. Domestic players will still be able to play the game on launch day through Xbox Series X|S, Xbox PC, Game Pass, and Steam. We deeply apologize for any inconvenience caused to players in Japan who have been waiting for the release of this game.

This Yahoo Japan article sheds more light, seems like CERO and IARC ratings are stricter for playstation content in Japan.

「残虐描写でCEROレーティングが取得できなかった」国内PS5発売中止『Gears of War: Reloaded』より詳しい内容明らかに（Game Spark） - Yahoo!ニュース

マイクロソフトは、名作TPSのリマスター『Gears of War: Reloaded』の国内向けPlayStation 5版の発売を中止することを発表しましたが、その理由についてさらなる詳細が明ら

news.yahoo.co.jp

As a result of an interview with Microsoft in the editorial department, the person in charge confirmed that the CERO review could not be obtained, saying, "Blood, cruel depictions, and intense violence were the main factors, and the CERO rating could not be obtained." In recent years, PlayStation hardware has also supported the "IARC" rating, which is conditionally available more widely and worldwide, but games are not allowed to be released with the "IARC 18+" rating that the game obtained in parallel.

At the same time, the editorial department also interviewed whether there were any regulations specific to other domestic versions, but only received a response that the product would be released with the acquired IARC rating (IARC 18+). However, since we have not received the fact that the IARC rating has been reacquired only for the Japan region, it seems that we can expect that the content will be unregulated or close to it for other models.

 

[SILKYSMOOTH30FPS]

Crazy that this is still a thing in 2025. Nothing in Gears should be a problem.

 

[DeepEnigma]

This makes no sense.

 

[LordCBH]

That's so fucking dumb. These places just need to let people decide for themselves if they want it or not.

 

[adamsapple]

This makes no sense.

I hate to be that guy but ratings concerns out of Japan seem especially hilarious.

 

[amigastar]

I hate censoring. It should be gone nowadays.

 

[Thick Thighs Save Lives]

Just CERO being inconsistent as fuck. They also refused to give Dead Space remake a rating.

Japanese games are rated by the Computer Entertainment Rating Organization (CERO) and can only be sold in Japan after they've been reviewed and rated.

Stellar Blade has been passed for a CERO D rating, which means it can't be purchased by players under 17 years of age, unless they have parental consent.

This has annoyed EA Japan general manager Shaun Noguchi, who took to X (as spotted by Automaton) to complain that CERO refused to give the Dead Space remake a rating, effectively banning the console version in Japan, over gore that he believes is similar to that in Stellar Blade.

Posting a selection of screenshots from the Stellar Blade demo showing severed limbs with visible bones, and guts splattered on the floor, Noguchi claimed that CERO's decision not to rate Dead Space was based on similarly graphic content.

"What do you mean, CERO?", Noguchi wrote, before saying he felt the Stellar Blade demo was "a lot of fun" and "full of action".

"CERO, you said that our Dead Space was no good because the cross-section of damaged parts and internal organs were visible. But here you can see both the cross-sections and insides, so I'm not convinced you are using CERO D."

Noguchi went on to stress that his post was a criticism of CERO, rather than Stellar Blade.

"Just to add something to avoid any misunderstanding, I have no ill will towards Stellar Blade itself," he explained. "It was fun and I recommend you should buy it."

"This is purely a complaint about the ambiguity of the review process in Japan, and I can give many examples of the ambiguity that is prevalent in the review process for other titles as well."

EA Japan exec criticises Japanese rating board for banning Dead Space, but passing Stellar Blade | VGC

The gore that got Dead Space banned is similar in Stellar Blade…

www.videogameschronicle.com

 

[DeepEnigma]

Just CERO being inconsistent as fuck. They also refused to give Dead Space remake a rating.

And Callisto Protocol.

 

[acm2000]

for the players

 

[Mr Moose]

Still coming out in Japan on PC and Xbox tho.

 

[MrRibeye]

Silent Hill f looks wilder than Gears 1

 

[Dr Bass]

I hate to be that guy but ratings concerns out of Japan seem especially hilarious.

Is this a tentacle reference?

 

[Killer8]

Even the original on Xbox 360 managed to release with a CERO Z rating. Japan has regressed.

 

[kevboard]

Sony's online stores are weird with age ratings.

for example, in germany you can not download free demos or free 2 play games that are USK18 rated unless you pay a small amount, or in some cases, if you have PS+

this is not a thing that happens on any other online store. not on Nintendo systems, not on Xbox, not on Steam, Epic, EA, Ubisoft, GoG... only on PSN. and that has been an issue since the PS3.

so I am not surprised that they have similar weird issues in Japan even tho no other store has this issue

 

[adamsapple]

Is this a tentacle reference?

I mean sure, there's more stuff too but broadly, yes.

 

[Mr Moose]

Sony's online stores are weird with age ratings.

for example, in germany you can not download free demos or free 2 play games that are USK18 rated unless you pay a small amount, or in some cases, if you have PS+

this is not a thing that happens on any other online store. not on Nintendo systems, not on Xbox, not on Steam, Epic, EA, Ubisoft, GoG... only on PSN. and that has been an issue since the PS3.

so I am not surprised that they have similar weird issues in Japan even tho no other store has this issue

What? CERO is not affiliated with PlayStation.

 

[kevboard]

What? CERO is not affiliated with PlayStation.

no but Gears isn't getting a CERO rating (or maybe a CERO-Z), which apparently is an issue on PSN, but not on any other store.

hence it releasing on Xbox and Steam in Japan, but not on PS5.

PSN and age rating shenanigans isn't a new thing is what I'm saying. in Germany we essentially had to have at least 1 secondary account in another country to get demos and free 2 play games without issue ever since the PS3

 

[Shubh_C63]

Would have been ok if the character were Anime.
Xbox should re-apply after an official mod replacing all main characters with little Japanese anime girls.

Edit- oh its Sony. Not Japan.

 

[Dane]

The reason is that CERO will automatically put a Z rating with games with gore and this restrict sales to adults only section of stores and webstores, and even with that rating censorship can still happen to grant a rating as it is the case with Resident Evil 7 and beyond with their Z Version releases.

Gears of War had a history of issues: Gears 1 never a saw a japanese release, only an asian english release happened, Gears 2 was released months later after Microsoft and Epic reviewed CERO's documentation and concluded they could release it uncut with the Z rating, Gears 4 also happened in a similar fashion.

 

[Danwan224]

Are there any difference rules between fully digital SKUS and physical ones

 

[Neolombax]

I've always found it odd that Japan has censorship for violence when their anime can be very violent.

 

[Fess]

This is weird. Feels like a ton of games are worse than Gears. What's the trigger? Chainsaw attack?

 

[ReyBrujo]

I've always found it odd that Japan has censorship for violence when their anime can be very violent.

It's a matter of how realistic it looks like, cartoons are fair game.

 

[Arsic]

Change all the red blood to white instead.

Problem fixed.

 

[Pigenator]

Gears of all games? wut
Like there aren't tons of super violent japanese games

 

[damidu]

whaa?! what did they do with god of war or last of us p2