Saints Row 4 Gets a 'Low Violence' Version for the Australian Steam Store

Saints Row 4 recently made Australian history by becoming the first game to be banned in the country following the introduction of the R18+ rating. Due to the use of alien drugs and an "anal probe" weapon, the game was denied classification, effectively preventing it from being sold in Australia.

Australian Classification Board acting director Donald McDonald wrote that the game included "interactive, visual depictions of implied sexual violence which are not justified by context." In addition, Saints Row 4  "includes elements of illicit or proscribed drug use related to incentives or rewards. Such depictions are prohibited by the computer games guidelines."

Publisher Deep Silver could have appealed the decision, but with the release date looming, it seems they've gone with a different approach. Kotaku has reported that a "low violence" version of the upcoming game has appeared on the Australian Steam store. For now, we don't know what this version will entail, although it will likely mean the removal of the aforementioned weapon and drug use.

So far this year, 17 games have been given the new R18+ rating. They include Army of Two: the Devil's Cartel, Ninja Gaiden 3, and Mortal Kombat Komplete Edition. Australia introduced the new rating system in January to allow for the sale of games deemed inappropriate for minors. The R18+ rating is comparable to the ESRB's Mature rating.

Last week, Undead Lab's State of Decay became the second title to be refused classification due to the drug use in the game.

Volition's Saints Row 4 is set to be released on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC on August 22, 2013. Set after the events of the third game, it follows the leader of the Third Street Saints, now the President of the United States. When an alien invasion occurs, the protagonist being finds himself trapped in a virtual simulation, and must use newfound superpowers to bring down the invaders.