Disco Elysium: The Final Cut is cleared to launch in Australia after the game from developer ZA/UM was banned from releasing at all. Initially, the Australian Classification Board said no to releasing the title, handing out an RC (refused classification) rating because it references “matters of sex, drug misuse or addiction, crime, cruelty, violence or revolting or abhorrent phenomena.” The game went on to launch worldwide on March 30 with the exception of Australia.
Now, nearly two months later, Australia is allowing Disco Elysium: The Final Cut the chance to launch according to Kotaku Australia. According to the new ruling, the game disincentivizes for using drugs in the game, allowing The Final Cut the ability to release on consoles in Australia.
“In the Review Board’s opinion, while drug use linked to incentives and rewards cannot be accommodated at R 18+, this game does provide disincentives related to drug-taking behaviour, to the point where regular drug use leads to negative consequences for the player’s progression in the game. It was, specifically, the disincentives for drug use that influenced the Review Board in making their decision,” says the ruling. “Drug use is not explicitly depicted within the game. The game contains frequent strong coarse language, often used aggressively, which has a high impact. The themes within the game are related to a detective investigating a murder while also attempting to manage his own alcohol addiction, and getting his life back together after his substance abuse. The themes and drug references within the game are inextricably linked.”
