Censorship in video games is a hot button topic. The practice can take many forms, and be done for a number of different reasons. Most often the conversation is about how Japanese games are censored for their release in Western markets, but recently there has been an uptick in chatter about censorship practices in Japan. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla released in Japan with depictions of bloodshed removed. In a recent interview, CyberConnect2 President and CEO Hiroshi Matsuyama discusses possible censorship of the company’s upcoming Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba game.
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba is perhaps the biggest manga/anime franchise in the world right now. Last year’s Demon Slayer: Mugen Train movie broke the long-standing domestic box office record in Japan held by Hayao Miyazaki’s film Spirited Away. The series has captivated audiences with its beautifully drawn action sequences, likeable characters, and some sharp writing. Demon Slayer has a fair amount of violence in it, which is why Matsuyama is talking censorship of the upcoming game.
In the interview, Matsuyama is asked about the bloodshed found in Demon Slayer, and what that means for censorship of the game. His response is surprisingly revealing about censorship practices with specific regard to Sony. Matsuyama explains that while CyberConnect2 is developing the game with Japan’s CERO rating system in mind, and attempting to fit its game into a suitable category, Sony presents additional rules when it comes to releases on its consoles. Of particular concern for Sony is excessive blood and dismemberment.
Matsuyama points to two different games, and two different responses his company has received from Sony. In Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4, the character Minato Namikaze (who loses his arms in the series) is presented in-game with arms intact because Sony would not allow him to be shown dismembered. Conversely, for the more recent Dragonball Z: Kakarot, the character Nappa blasts off the arm of Tien Shinhan, a moment of violence Sony allowed to stay in the game. Matsuyama explains that Sony’s reasoning has to do with the source material (Naruto as a more kid-friendly manga versus Dragonball geared towards teens and adults) as well as the changing times (Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 was released in 2016, Kakarot in 2020).
The problem Demon Slayer: Kimestu no Yaiba faces is that it has universal demographic appeal, but if the game were to be true to its source and include excessive bloodshed, it might risk getting a dreaded ‘Z’ CERO rating. The ‘Z’ rating would limit the game’s sale to only those over 18, and would limit the marketability of the game. If Sony wants to move units, it is likely the company would step in and ask CyberConnect2 to tone down content to receive a more friendly rating. Other Japanese developers have mentioned that censorship is on their minds when designing a game, like Atelier Ryza 2 producer Junzo Hosoi. So it is a consideration to make a game with wider appeal, and easier access.
Tasked with delivering a game for the hottest manga/anime franchise going, CyberConnect2 is in the unenviable position of trying to stay true to the series, while also developing a game that won’t run afoul of a strict ratings system. Recently released trailers for the Demon Slayer game look to be pretty clean, so it would seem that CyberConnect2 is already considering censorship as part of the game’s development.
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Hinokami Keppuutan is in development for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
Source: GameSpark
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