Capcom's RE Director Slams Game Censorship

Resident Evil Director Thinks Game Censorship Sucks Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered's October release has reignited criticism of Japan's CERO age rating system. The game's creators are openly expressing their disappointment over the censorship applied to the Japanese console version.

Suda51 and Shinji Mikami Condemn Censorship of Shadows of the Damned

CERO Faces Renewed Backlash

Resident Evil Director Thinks Game Censorship Sucks Suda51 and Shinji Mikami, the creative minds behind Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered, have voiced strong criticism of Japan's CERO rating board. Their frustration stems from the censorship imposed on the remastered game's Japanese console release. In an interview with GameSpark, they openly questioned the rationale behind CERO's restrictions.

Suda51, renowned for titles like Killer7 and No More Heroes, confirmed the need to create two versions of the game for release in Japan. He stated, "Creating two versions presented a significant challenge, doubling our workload and extending development time."

Shinji Mikami, celebrated for his work on mature-rated classics like Resident Evil, Dino Crisis, and God Hand, expressed his belief that CERO is out of sync with modern gamers. He argued that "it's illogical for non-gamers to censor games and prevent players from experiencing the complete intended experience, especially when there's a clear audience for mature titles."

Resident Evil Director Thinks Game Censorship Sucks CERO's rating system includes categories like CERO D (17+) and CERO Z (18+). Mikami's original Resident Evil, a pioneering horror title, featured graphic content and its 2015 remake, retaining this signature style, received a CERO Z rating.

Suda51 questioned the effectiveness of these restrictions, stating, "While we must comply with regional regulations, I question their purpose and target audience. It feels like they don't consider the players themselves."

This isn't the first time CERO's practices have faced scrutiny. In April, EA Japan's Shaun Noguchi highlighted inconsistencies, citing the approval of Stellar Blade with a CERO D rating while Dead Space was rejected. This latest controversy further underscores the ongoing debate surrounding game censorship in Japan.