Gears of War: Reloaded Skips PS5 in Japan: Platform Policies at Play
Colaboradores
Gears of War fans in Japan hoping to experience Gears of War: Reloaded on their PlayStation 5 consoles are in for disappointment. Microsoft has announced that the remastered version of the original Gears of War will not be released on the PS5 in Japan, despite being available on Xbox Series X/S, PC, Game Pass, and Steam in the same region.
Platform Policies and Regional Restrictions
The reason behind the PS5 exclusion is attributed to “regional rating restrictions” and “platform policies,” according to Microsoft's statement on Xbox Live Japan. While the exact details remain undisclosed, it's heavily speculated that Japan's strict Computer Entertainment Rating Organization (CERO) standards regarding violence and gore are a major factor.
The Gears of War franchise is known for its graphic depictions of combat, including the use of chainsaw weapons to brutally dispatch enemies. CERO has a history of being particularly stringent regarding limb severance and excessive blood, as evidenced by the past bans of titles like The Callisto Protocol and the Dead Space remake on consoles in Japan.
IARC Rating and Sony's Stance
While Gears of War: Reloaded will be available on other platforms in Japan, the hurdle for PS5 lies in Sony's specific policies for PlayStation titles within the country. Games with 18+ content must pass CERO’s board to be sold on the PlayStation Store. The Microsoft Store page for the game in Japan displays an IARC (International Age Rating Coalition) 18+ rating but lacks CERO certification, suggesting Microsoft opted for the IARC rating instead of attempting to meet CERO's requirements for the PS5 release.
A Missed Opportunity for Japanese Players
Given the historically low sales figures for Xbox consoles in Japan, the absence of Gears of War: Reloaded on the PS5 represents a missed opportunity to introduce the franchise to a wider audience. It remains to be seen if a censored version of the game will eventually be released in the region, but for now, Japanese PlayStation gamers will have to resort to other platforms to experience the remastered classic.
Despite the setback, Gears of War: Reloaded is set to offer a visually stunning and technically impressive experience on available platforms, with 4K assets, remastered textures, HDR support, and a smooth 60fps framerate.