Sega’s MadWorld will be released across the UK on March‭ ‬20,‭ ‬the publisher has confirmed to Edge.

The title will mark developer Platinum Games‭’ ‬first release since the studio revealed its four-game publishing deal with Sega last year.‭

In January the British Board of Film Classification granted the comically ultraviolent title an‭ ‬18‭ ‬certificate with‭ “‬no problems‭”‬,‭ ‬moments before the Australian Board of Classification‭ ‬cleared the title for an MA15+‭ ‬rating.‭

The game’s application on the Australian Board’s webpage‭ ‬states that Sega’s new Wii title has only been submitted once,‭ ‬though that doesn’t necessarily rule out the possibility that it has undergone content cuts.‭

The BBFC,‭ ‬meanwhile,‭ ‬has updated its‭ ‬description of the title,‭ ‬with more reasoning behind it granting the game an‭ ‬18‭ ‬certificate.‭

‭“‬In MadWorld,‭ ‬gameplay requires players to string together combinations of attacking moves in order to kill enemies and earn points.‭ ‬Whilst these moves and their effects are often unrealistic,‭ ‬the results are very bloody,‭ ‬with enemies frequently decapitated in a single swipe of a chainsaw,‭ ‬for example,‭” ‬the board said.

‭“‬The game's clear lack of realism,‭ ‬with its fantastical elements and cartoon style did mean however that the game could be classified at the‭ ‬18‭ ‬category.‭ ‬At this,‭ ‬adult,‭ ‬level there would have been no sustainable legal or empirical basis for denying adults the ability to choose for themselves whether to play the game,‭” ‬the board concluded.

Platinum games is currently known to be working on three other titles‭ – ‬Bayonetta,‭ ‬Infinite Space and an unannounced project‭ – ‬with Hideki Kamiya’s Bayonetta getting the more exposure out of the three and more likely to arrive first after MadWorld.‭