Shinji Mikami slams video game censorship in Japan: “The rules are made by people who don’t play games” 

Resident Evil creator Shinji Mikami recently spoke out about game censorship in Japan. Namely, his dissatisfaction with Japan’s strict video game rating system- and how it can even cause games to be completely banned in the region- such as Dead Space and The Calistro Protocol.   

The topic came up in a recent interview with Shinji Mikami and Goichi “Suda51” Suda on Game*Spark about the upcoming remaster of their game Shadows of the Damned (Shadow of the Damned: Hella Remastered) due to be released on multiple platforms in October, 2024.  The conversation turned to how differences between Japan’s rating system and overseas meant that they had to censor parts of the game for the Japanese console releases (for both the 2011 original and the upcoming remaster), basically releasing two different versions. 

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To be launched on consoles in Japan, games must obtain a rating from Japan’s CERO (Computer Entertainment Rating Organization) board. Although download-only titles have the option of getting a classification from the IARC instead, all games with 18+ content in Japan must pass CERO’s regulations. On the other hand, PC releases on Steam in Japan usually end up being uncut, as they don’t have to pass through CERO.  

“I think it’s an odd system because games end up being restricted due to rules made by people who don’t play games, blocking the enjoyment of those who want to play them,” Mikami explains.  

Suda51 agreed, commenting, “We have no choice but to deal with imposed regional restrictions as part of our job, but I always wonder what the players will think. For example, it’s a bit sad if people go ‘I’ll buy the PC version on Steam because I want to play uncensored’, even though our game (Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered) is available on a variety of platforms. Who are these restrictions for? I feel like they are not for the customers who play the games.” 

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On the topic of games that fell afoul of CERO’s rules, Mikami mentions the original Dead Space (2008) “It could not be released in Japan due to (CERO’s) restrictions and those who wanted to play it had no choice but to track down an overseas copy.” At the time, Mikami got to talk to the game’s developers at EA Redwood Shores. “This left such an impression on me that I remember it even now – one of the people there was in tears, saying ‘We can’t sell the game in Japan even though we worked so hard…!’” 

Japan’s CERO age rating has been criticized in the past for its “vague” review process and a lack of consistency in the games it denies ratings to. The Dead Space remake in 2023 was also refused classification for “depictions of cross-sections of severed body parts and internal organs,” however Stellar Blade was released uncensored with a CERO D (17+) rating for similar levels of gore in 2024.  

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Historically, CERO has been particularly tough on gory depictions of severed body parts, however they have also called for censorship or removal of sexual content for games to qualify for a CERO Z (18+) rating. Examples include the removal of sex scenes in the Japanese release of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and Baldur’s Gate 3 (in which genitalia was also censored in rather amusing way). 

Suda51 concluded that game censorship in Japan is a difficult issue: “It would be good if they could make a CERO X certificate that’s higher than CERO Z, so that overseas games could be released in Japan unaltered.” He also mentions the burden on developers. “For the remaster (of Shadows of the Damned), we had to make two versions… which had a huge impact in terms of workload and prolonged the development period.” 

Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered is scheduled to be released for PS4/PS5. Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch and PC (Steam) on October 31, 2024. In Japan, the console versions will be censored, whereas the Steam version will be uncut.