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Silent Hill f is the first game in the series to be rated 18+ in Japan

Thick Thighs Save Lives

NeoGAF's Physical Games Advocate Extraordinaire
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During the latest Silent Hill Transmissions stream held on March 14, Konami officially announced Silent Hill f. The new title’s Showa-era Japan setting is a distinct departure from previous entries, but Silent Hill f will also be the first game in the franchise to be rated CERO:Z (ages 18 and up) in Japan.

While it’s still possible for the age rating to be revised prior to the game’s release, at the time of writing, Silent Hill f is the only game in the series with such a high rating, as all numbered titles from Silent Hill to Silent Hill 4: The Room have been rated CERO:C (ages 15 and up). Even the Silent Hill 2 remake, which was given a mature (17+) ESRB rating in the West, remained CERO:C in Japan. Other Silent Hill entries developed outside of Japan have been rated CERO: D (ages 17 and up) at the highest.

On the other hand, it might be worth mentioning the case of 2008’s Silent Hill: Homecoming here. Homecoming was developed outside of Japan and initially released in the West, but it’s Japanese release ended up being cancelled. The title is known for having some of the goriest depictions in the Silent Hill series, and it was appropriately given a mature ESRB rating in the West. Back when the Japanese launch was cancelled, Konami told Japanese outlet GIGAZINE that they judged that the game was not suitable for the Japanese market during the localization stage (although they cited overall reasons, beyond just gory expressions, as the reason). Perhaps Homecoming would have been rated CERO:Z if it hadn’t been cancelled.

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As for the upcoming Silent Hill f, storefront descriptions suggest that the CERO:Z rating itself is primarily due to the game’s depictions of “crime.” The Steam page further warns of “depictions of gender discrimination, child abuse, bullying, drug-induced hallucinations, torture, and graphic violence.”

With a scenario written by Ryukishi07, author of the acclaimed Umineko and Higurashi When They Cry series, Silent Hill f is currently in development for the PC (Steam/Epic Games Store), PS5 and Xbox Series X|S

 
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TheInfamousKira

Reseterror Resettler
depictions of gender discrimination, child abuse, bullying, drug-induced hallucinations, torture, and graphic violence.”

Don't fucking ruin this game please.....i have such high hopes for this. No blue hair bullshit allowed.

This shit largely wasn't an issue there and then, setting wise, so if they're being true to the Transmission interview about being authentic to the time period, I think we're safe. Gender discrimination probably refers to the male/female dynamic in classic Japanese life. Anything that features a woman (content or otherwise) in a traditional female role will give modern gamers (the ones that don't play games but get on Bluesky) legit bleeding-out- the-eyes-and-ears aneurysms. In a perfect world, that fact explains it. They implemented a trigger warning into the blood and guts warning.

THIS GAME CONTAINS DEPICTIONS OF BLOOD AND GORE AND WOMEN BEING HOMEMAKERS. IF YOU FEEL ILL, PLEASE LOG INTO BLUESKY AND MALD
 
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