Video game censorship has always been a hot topic, and it still resurfaces from time to time. Many titles with violent gameplay or suggestive content have become hotbeds of controversy, as people unfamiliar with gaming vilify these products as corrupting influences. Of course, this is just one of the many reasons why video games are censored, sometimes to the point where people end up noticing things that developers and studios are trying to draw attention away from.
This leads to the Streisand Effect, where the act of trying to cover something up leads to more eyes being pointed toward an issue than ever before. This phenomenon has affected the realm of video games many times and, in some cases, changed video game history.
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Konami Refusing To Let Anyone Experience P.T.'s Excellence
An Ugly Breakup That Became Even More Talked-About After This Puzzling Move
P.T.
- Released
- August 12, 2014
- ESRB
- m
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
P.T. Is one of the most influential horror games ever made, but the rift between Kojima and Konami led to the developer annihilating this game from the PS4 for good. However, instead of burying this incredible horror game, this move only grew P.T.'S legacy to new heights.
This lost horror game became even more legendary as a result, leading to the rise of anomaly horror games and generating greater interest in the horror genre than ever. It isn't a stretch to say that Resident Evil 7 would never have been so successful had P.T.'S release and deletion from the PlayStation Store not left a void that this game could occupy.
Hatred Being Delisted From Steam
Came Back With An Apology From Lord Gabe Himself
Hatred
- Released
- June 1, 2015
- ESRB
- AO For Adult Only 18+ Due To Intense Violence, Blood and Gore, Strong Language
- Genre(s)
- Shoot 'em Up
Hatred intentionally stirred up a ton of controversy by marketing itself as a genocide simulator. The game itself isn't that special, but the violent content and the coverage it received ensured that more people would check out this title than anyone could have expected.
It didn't help that Steam tried to censor this game by delisting it from their store, only to anger fans. The fact that Gabe Newell personally apologized to players before bringing Hatred back to Steam definitely had a huge role to play in bolstering its sales, too.
Mass Effect Legendary Edition Changing A Certain Angle When Talking To Miranda
Brought More Eyes Toward This Particular Situation
Mass Effect: Legendary Edition
- Released
- May 14, 2021
WHERE TO PLAY
Many remastered editions of popular titles try to change certain aspects to fit the modern climate. In the case of Mass Effect Legendary Edition, the remaster made a small change to one dialogue exchange with Miranda Lawson that fans picked up on in no time.
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The original game showed a flattering shot of Miranda's posterior, something that was removed in the remake. As subtle as it was, fans picked up on this change in no time, and it made the rounds on social media not long after.
Night Trap Is Popular Mainly Because Of Its Controversy
The Only Reason People Still Talk About This Game
Night Trap
- Released
- October 15, 1992
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- t
- Genre(s)
- Adventure, Strategy
Night Trap is far from a great video game, but it attained notoriety for different reasons. The gameplay loop of saving vulnerable girls from masked kidnappers stirred up a ton of controversy, and called for demands to censor or ban the game outright.
This conversation was so long and protracted that it eventually led to the rise of the ESRB system, the rating scale that is now widely used across the video game industry. Without this discussion, it's very much possible that Night Trap would have become yet another forgotten mediocre video game. Instead, it has accrued a reputation as one of the most important video games that shaped this landscape.
Manhunt Was So Violent That It Was Banned
More People Found Out Just How Violent This Game's Executions Were
Manhunt
- Released
- November 18, 2003
WHERE TO PLAY
Rockstar is no stranger to controversy, but it can't be stated enough how notorious Manhunt was when it launched. The game was banned in several regions and became controversial for how violent and sickening the content seemed to outsiders.
In a way, this added to Manhunt's legend, with the discussion leading to more people checking out James Earl Cash's adventures for themselves. This sickening tale is as dark and bloody as they come, but this isn't necessarily a bad thing . Manhunt makes the most of its somber atmosphere to immerse players.
South Park: The Stick Of Truth Lampoons Regional Censorship Laws
See Koalas And Statues Crying While Being Told About Censored Scenes
South Park: The Stick of Truth
- Released
- March 4, 2014
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Drug Reference, Mature Humor, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Violence
- Genre(s)
- RPG
Considering the cartoon it's based on, it was only a given that South Park: The Stick of Truth would face a tough time with video game censorship laws. But instead of outright removing content, Trey and Matt settled on a hilarious solution.
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Moments that were censored for Australian and EU markets featured a crying koala and a statue, respectively, as the game told players in a humorous manner what they were missing out on. This became popular for embodying the classic South Park spirit, and it ensured that the game would be interesting to play for more players, including those who aren't necessarily South Park fans.
Mortal Kombat Faced A Censorship Controversy For The Ages
The Fatalities Have Become A Mainstay Of The Series
Mortal Kombat (1992)
- Released
- October 6, 1992
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- m
- Genre(s)
- Fighting
Mortal Kombat is the poster child of controversial games, with the first few games being censored by either removing blood, changing the blood's color, or the games being banned outright. This game, along with Night Trap, sparked the video game censorship debate that led to the ESRB system.
The fatalities of Mortal Kombat were the biggest talking point that was criticized by supporters of the game's ban. These people would be in shock if they saw just how gruesome and bloody the fatalities in modern Mortal Kombat games are, considering how far graphics have come since 1992.
Trying To Censor NSFW Games Is Having The Opposite Effect
Freedom Of Expression Has Become A Major Talking Point
- Brand
- Valve
- Original Release Date
- September 12, 2003
- Original MSRP (USD)
- N/A
- Weight
- N/A
A huge topic in the gaming industry right now is how payment platforms are forcing Steam and other video game platforms to remove all NSFW games from their library. This development arose after Collective Shout started pressuring video game platforms to remove these suspect games.
As a result, fans are lashing back and asking questions about where this video game censorship will draw the line. The fact that this has become a major news story that is developing to this day makes it clear that Steam and itch.io won't have an easy time sweeping all this under the rug.
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