Katana Zero has finally arrived today as it launches on Nintendo Switch, PC, and Mac but unfortunately, not everyone is enjoying this 80’s neo-noir sidescroller by Askiisoft. Publishers Devolver Digital has taken to Twitter to release a statement stating that players in Australia and New Zealand will have to wait a little longer as they sort out some issues regarding the titled getting banned.
The title has been refused classification in both Australia and New Zealand via an automated IARC process which means that it hasn’t actually been banned by a person or from the Classification Board itself. Devolver Digital is currently in the process of resubmitting Katana Zero and hoping that it’ll be a case of the second time is a charm. The IARC (International Age Rating Coalition) is in charge of the whole process of providing content ratings for games in numerous other countries including New Zealand and Australia.
Heads up to folks in Australia / New Zealand – Katana ZERO has a ‘Classification Refused’ rating and therefore will not be released on Switch in Australia and New Zealand on Thursday.
Our team is re-submitting in hopes to get that changed and we’ll keep you posted with news! pic.twitter.com/VTt9U4Jni3
— Devolver Digital (@devolverdigital) April 17, 2019
In North America, they have the ESRB or if you were in Europe it would be PEGI for Europe, but it seems the IARC is more rigorous and seemingly disallow certain video games for a host of reasons. Thankfully, the Steam version is looking like it’s still available from an Australian IP, but Switch owners will have to wait a little while longer to see if it will be made available once the Classification Board gives a response to approve the game before it can be sold on the eShop.
Katana Zero is currently breaking a record as Devolver Digital’s most-preordered Switch title and from someone who started playing it today, I can totally see why. Here’s hoping that Australia and New Zealand get to experience this title for themselves soon, too.
Katana Zero releases today for Nintendo Switch, PC, and Mac. You can also check out our review of the title right here.
Feast your eyes on the Katana Zero launch trailer, below:
The post Katana Zero Encounters a Delay in Australia and New Zealand Due to “Refused Classification” by Rachael Fiddis appeared first on DualShockers.