Hotline Miami 2's sexualised violence gets it effectively banned in Australia

Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number has been Refused Classification by the Australian Classifications Board. That means it cannot be released in the country without changes.

This decision comes two years after the R18+ certificate was introduced in Australia. It was established specifically for "classifiable elements such as sex scenes and drug use that are high in impact."

Hotline Miami 2 probably would have got the R18+ rating if it only contained the gory, stylized violence and gore of the first game, and nothing more extreme.

But the reason for Board's decision is due to an implied rape scene in the game. Its inclusion goes against the Board's guidelines against sexualised violence in video games.

Player Attack was able to get the report from the Classification Board, including the excerpt that details the scene that got the game banned.

You can read that excerpt on that site but, be warned, it's graphic and some may find it offensive.

In response

Hotline Miami 2's publisher Devolver Digital has responded to the Classification Board's decision.

Firstly, Devolver points out that the player is given the option to play a cut or uncut version of the game. Choosing the cut version avoids the content that portrays implied sexualised violence.

Devolver demonstrates this option given to the player, and how it affects the game, in this video. Obviously, be aware that the sexualised violence is portrayed in that video.

Secondly, Devolver expresses concern with how the Classification Board falsely described the scene in its report.

Devolver said that the Board "stretch[ed] the facts" when describing "specific thrusting actions that are not simply present in the sequence in question."

And, Devolver is right, there is no thrusting in the scene if you watch the video linked above.