Capcom Director decries Video Game Censorship

With the October release of Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered fast approaching, criticism of Japan's CERO age rating system intensifies, fueled by the game's creators' frustration over its censorship in Japan.

Suda51 and Shinji Mikami Condemn Shadows of the Damned's Censorship

CERO Faces Backlash Again

Suda51 and Shinji Mikami, writer and producer of Shadows of the Damned, have voiced their disappointment with Japan's CERO rating board, specifically regarding the censored Japanese console release of Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered. In a recent interview with GameSpark, they openly criticized CERO's restrictions, questioning the rationale behind them.

Suda51, known for Killer7 and the No More Heroes series, confirmed to GameSpark that the remaster required a censored version for Japanese consoles. He stated, "Creating two versions presented a significant challenge. The remastering process demanded simultaneous development of two versions, dramatically increasing our workload and extending the development timeline."

Shinji Mikami, renowned for his work on mature titles like Resident Evil, Dino Crisis, and God Hand, expressed his concern that CERO is out of sync with modern gamers. He commented, "It seems odd for non-gamers to censor these games, preventing players from experiencing the complete intended experience, especially when there's a clear audience for these 'edgier' titles."

CERO's rating system includes CERO D (17+) and CERO Z (18+). Mikami's original Resident Evil, a groundbreaking horror title, featured graphic violence. Its 2015 remake, retaining the series' signature gore, received a CERO Z rating.

Suda51 questioned the effectiveness of these restrictions. "While regional restrictions are unavoidable, I always wonder about the players' perspective. What is the purpose of these restrictions? Who are they intended for? It certainly doesn't seem to be the players themselves."

This isn't CERO's first encounter with such criticism. In April, following the release of Stellar Blade, EA Japan General Manager Shaun Noguchi raised concerns about CERO's inconsistent application of ratings, citing the approval of Stellar Blade (CERO D) while rejecting Dead Space.