Stellar Blade's recent age rating has stirred controversy as a senior official from Electronics Arts raises concerns about Japan's Computer Entertainment Rating Organization (CERO). The game was assigned a CERO D classification, suitable for players aged 17 and above, a decision that has left many industry observers puzzled.
The CERO rating system in Japan ranges from A to D, with an additional Z rating equivalent to ESRB AO or PEGI 18, indicating content for adults only. Unlike other global regulators, CERO sometimes opts to not rate games at all. In such cases, publishers face a choice between censoring objectionable content or accepting a de facto ban on nationwide console sales.
EA Japan Executive Unhappy With CERO's Rating for Stellar Blade
The situation echoes the fate of the well-received Dead Space remake, which saw a Japan release only on Steam after CERO rejected its rating application due to graphic violence. Shaun Noguchi, EA's General Manager in Japan, expressed frustration over this disparity, especially since Stellar Blade received a CERO D rating, deeming it suitable for teenagers.
Noguchi highlighted that Dead Space was denied a rating due to its graphic depiction of gore, while Stellar Blade with similar content managed to secure a lower rating. The EA executive, in an April 21 tweet, criticized the inconsistency, emphasizing the need for clarity in Japan's game classification process.
Notably, Dead Space is not the only horror game facing CERO rating issues; The Callisto Protocol also encountered a ban in Japan in 2022. Even renowned Japanese horror franchises like Resident Evil and Silent Hill often censor their releases in the country due to strict regulations against graphic violence, such as decapitations.
Critique of CERO's Age Ratings
The contrasting treatment of Stellar Blade and Dead Space by CERO may stem from the former's focus on non-humanoid adversaries and the latter's explicit gore in a horror setting. This disparity raises questions about the consistency and transparency of CERO's game rating procedures in Japan.