Hellraiser: Revival banned in Indonesia after developers aimed for global restrictions

Hellraiser: Revival was developed with a deliberate and challenging goal in mind. Saber Interactive wanted to deliver content that would at least see bans or ratings in one area of the world. This matters for those hoping to get a true take on Clive Barker's horror world. It's a sign of the times with more explicit content in video games that feature existing intellectual property.

Saber Interactive targeted regional bans to prove content fidelity

Hellraiser: Revival is less about merely showing players these taboos and more about making players do them. According to the game's narrative director Antony De Fault, merely showing the taboos isn't enough for the medium. The intention was for players to actually have to take part in the horror. This is what guides the controversial nature of the content in the game.

That's why you'll see full nudity. You'll see references to self-mutilation. Extreme gore.

Heavy-handed sexual acts. All of these things were put into Hellraiser: Revival to stay true to the source material. The extreme nature of the content in Hellraiser: Revival resulted in a refused classification in Indonesia. In effect, it's been banned from sale in that region with the Indonesia Game Rating System.

Some small tweaks were made to avoid having the game banned for sale in even more global regions. They've managed to do it by concealing certain anatomical details in one scene in order to navigate the international scene. That has allowed the game to be available in most other regions. So the game's intensity is there while still being in compliance with local rules.

We had our last Hellraiser: Revival update which was about balance and stability. Now we have some more details which really get at the core issue of artistic intent versus access to the market. It's a fascinating look at how developers are addressing very controversial subjects in the world of modern interactive media. Rest assured, you'll get a raw, challenging horror experience.

Hellraiser: Revival is a calculated experiment in content limitations. They've certainly succeeded in getting their content to face restrictions in Indonesia. Small edits have been made but it's all pragmatic when it comes to releasing worldwide. The game is live with all its controversial core content in it.

Source: VideoGameChronicles