Developer Valve has appealed the Australian Office of Film and Literature Classification’s decision to refuse to grant Left 4 Dead 2 a rating.
“The title, targeted for release exclusively on Xbox 360 and PC November 17, has been rated in the majority of the world and awaiting final ratings in the UK and New Zealand, where final ratings are expected in the coming days,” the developer said. “Meanwhile, the ruling in Australia from the OFLC has been appealed by Valve.”
No rating higher than 15+ currently exists for games in Australia, despite the fact that movies and magazines can receive adult classification. In a statement explaining its decision to ban the game, the OFLC cited Left 4 Dead 2’s “realistic, frenetic and unrelenting violence”.
A spokesperson for the game’s publisher, EA, has told GameSpot that adults should have the right to choose the games they play.
"It’s funny that a place like Australia, which has come up with some pretty violent material in the past with something like Mad Max, can effectively ban videogames for the same reason," the rep said. "EA believes that adults should have the right to make their own choices when it comes to the content they consume."
The spokesperson wouldn’t comment on whether Valve would make changes to the game in a bid to reverse the OFLC’s decision.