Restriction of Gears of War: Reloaded on PS5 Japanese

Millions of PS5 players in Japan will not have access to Gears of War: Reloaded in August. Microsoft has confirmed that the PlayStation 5 version of the game will not be released in the country due to "regional and platform restrictions". Interestingly, the title will be available for PC and Xbox Series X|S in the same region.

The absence of the PS5 version in Japan initially sparked speculation that the game had been blocked by the CERO (Computer Entertainment Rating Organization), the country's strict age rating council. However, this theory was debunked when the release of the game for PC and Xbox in Japan was confirmed, indicating that the restriction was specifically focused on the Sony platform.

The key to understanding this situation lies in the game classification policies in Japan, as detailed by Automaton Media. For a game to be released in the country, it needs to be rated by CERO or an international body, the IARC (International Age Rating Coalition). Microsoft and Nintendo allow games on their platforms in Japan that, even if rejected by CERO, have been approved by IARC.

Sony, however, maintains a more restrictive policy for mature games (18+) on the Japanese PS Store. For these titles, CERO approval is a mandatory requirement. Since Gears of War: Reloaded did not obtain this specific approval from CERO, its distribution for PS5 in Japan was prevented. The other platforms, content with the IARC rating, will proceed with the release as planned.

This situation puts Sony in a peculiar position in the Japanese market, diverging from the policies of Microsoft and Nintendo regarding game classification. According to Automaton Media, Sony has no immediate plans to change its policies in Japan. This suggests that Japanese PS5 players may continue to face similar restrictions for other mature titles that do not receive CERO approval, even if they receive positive ratings from international bodies like IARC. The decision affects millions of users who will not be able to play the new Gears of War on their preferred platform.