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Classification Board announces review of Saints Row IV

The Australian Classification Review Board has announced a review of banned game Saints Row IV.

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The Australian Classification Review Board has announced a review of banned game Saints Row IV.

(Credit: Deep Silver)

Saint's Row IV was controversially refused classification on 19 June over content the Australian Classification Board decided fell outside the guidelines set by the R18+ classification rating for games; namely:

Saints Row IV includes interactive, visual depictions of implied sexual violence, which are not justified by context. In addition, the game includes elements of illicit or proscribed drug use related to incentives or rewards. Such depictions are prohibited by the computer games guidelines.

It was the first game to be refused classification under the new rating.

The Classification Review Board has announced (PDF) that game will be reviewed on 29 July. This will be an entirely new review; the Classification Review Board stands as a separate entity to the Classification Board, and its decision will supersede the previous ruling.

An edited version of Saint's Row IV catchily dubbed the "Australian Edition" was shown in a closed booth at PAX Australia from 19-21 July to attendees over the age of 18. Deep Silver told CNET Australia that this edited version of the game has been submitted to the Classification Board separately.