Banned Games of 2015-2016

Five games were banned in Australia between 2015 and 2016.

HOTLINE MIAMI 2: WRONG NUMBER (2015) was Refused Classification in January 2015.

This was followed in 2016 by PARANAUTICAL ACTIVITY (2013), MEIQ: LABYRINTH OF DEATH (2015), THE BUG BUTCHER (2016) and VALKYRIE DRIVE BHIKKHUNI (2015).

In March 2015, Australia began to use the International Age Rating Coalition (IARC) for the self-classification of mobile games. See Timeline: Game IARC Censorship for details of the hundreds of titles that have been Refused Classification under this automated system.


Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number

Publisher Devolver Digital / 2015 / MobyGames

In January 2015, HOTLINE MIAMI 2: WRONG NUMBER was banned by the Classification Board due to ‘implied sexual violence’.

Devolver Digital was the applicant.

Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number (2015) - Game Cover 1
Cover

RC reasons

January 14, 2015
Decision Report

Production Details:
Title: HOTLINE MIAMI 2: WRONG NUMBER
Alternate titles:
Publisher: DEVOLVER DIGITAL
Programmer: DENNATON
Production Company:
Year of Production: 2015
Duration: VARIABLE
Version: ORIGINAL
Country/ies of origin: SWEDEN
Language/s: ENGLISH
Application type: CG1
Applicant: DEVOLVER DIGITAL

Dates:
Date application received by the Classification Board: 06 January 2015
Date of decision: 14 January 2015

Decision:
Classification: RC
Consumer advice:

Synopsis:
HOTLINE MIAMI 2: WRONG NUMBER is a 3rd person shooter set in a 1980s Miami underworld and is a conclusion to the HOTLINE MIAMI saga. Gameplay appears in a 2D top-down view using 1980s style pixilated graphics. The player traverses 27 different stages. A wide variety of weapons can be used, including melee, thrown and ranged weapons, which the player employs to kill all enemies.

Reasons for the Decision:
In making this decision, the Classification Board has applied the Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Act 1995 (the Classification Act), the National Classification Code (the Code) and the Guidelines for the Classification of Computer Games 2012 (the Guidelines).

In the Board”s view this game warrants an ‘RC’ classification in accordance with item 1(a) of the computer games table of the Code:

“1. Computer games that:

(a) depict, express or otherwise deal with matters of sex, drug misuse or addiction, crime, cruelty, violence or revolting or abhorrent phenomena in such a way that they offend against the standards of morality, decency and propriety generally accepted by reasonable adults to the extent that they should not be classified;” will be Refused Classification.

Computer games that exceed the R18+ classification category will be Refused Classification. In the R18+ classification category, “actual sexual violence is not permitted. Implied sexual violence that is visually depicted, interactive, not justified by context or related to incentives or rewards is not permitted.” Computer Games will be Refused Classification if they include or contain implied sexual violence that is visually depicted.

The examples described below do not represent an exhaustive list of the content that caused the computer game to be refused classified.

In the sequence of game play footage titled Midnight Animal, the protagonist character bursts into what appears to be a movie set and explicitly kills 4 people, who collapse to the floor in a pool of copious blood, often accompanied by blood splatter. After stomping on the head of a fifth male character, he strikes a female character wearing red underwear. She is knocked to the floor and is viewed lying face down in a pool of copious blood. The male character is viewed with his pants halfway down, partially exposing his buttocks. He is viewed pinning the female down by the arms and lying on top of her thrusting, implicitly raping her (either rear entry or anally) while her legs are viewed kicking as she struggles beneath him. This visual depiction of implied sexual violence is emphasised by it being mid-screen, with a red backdrop pulsating and the remainder of the screen being surrounded by black.

This depiction of implied sexual violence exceeds what can be accommodated within the R18+ classification category and the game is therefore Refused Classification.

Decision:

This game is Refused Classification in accordance with item 1(a) of the computer games table of the Code.

– Classification Board report

Banned gameplay

The ‘implied sexual violence’ lasts for less than ten-seconds. The Classification Board’s report makes it sound explicit when actually the graphics are cartoonish.

There is an option for the game to be played with the removal of ‘scenes that allude to sexual violence’.

Devolver Digital responds

January 15, 2015
We are aware of the recent report published by the Australian Classification Board in regards to HOTLINE MIAMI 2 and have been in communication with them. As such, we and Dennaton Games would like to clarify a few things:

First, to clear up any possible misconceptions, the opening cinematic that was first shown in June of 2013 has not changed in any way. We also want to make clear that players are given an choice at the start of the game as to whether they wish to avoid content that alludes to sexual violence. The sequence in question is presented below in context, both after choosing the uncut version of the game and after choosing to avoid content that alludes to sexual violence.

Second, in response to the report itself, we are concerned and disappointed that a board of professionals tasked with evaluating and judging games fairly and honestly would stretch the facts to such a degree and issue a report that describes specific thrusting actions that are not simply present in the sequence in question and incorrectly portrays what was presented to them for review.

Though we have no plans to officially challenge the ruling, we stand by our developers, their creative vision for the storyline, its characters and the game and look forward to delivering HOTLINE MIAMI 2: WRONG NUMBER to fans very soon.

– Hotline Miami 2 Australian classification statement
– Devolver Digital & Dennaton Games

Classification Board comments

October 14, 2015
The computer game that was classified RC during the reporting period was HOTLINE MIAMI 2: WRONG NUMBER. The game is a third person shooter game set in a 1980s Miami underworld and is a conclusion to the HOTLINE MIAMI saga.

In the view of the Board, this game warranted an ‘RC’ classification in accordance with item 1(a) of the computer games table (clause 4) of the National Classification Code.

This game featured an animated sequence depicting sexual violence. This content exceeded what is able to be accommodated within the R 18+ guidelines, which states that “implied sexual violence that is visually depicted, interactive, not justified by context or related to incentives or rewards is not permitted”.

There were 94 complaints about the computer game HOTLINE MIAMI 2: WRONG NUMBER being Refused Classification (RC).

On 14 January 2015 the Board classified HOTLINE MIAMI 2: WRONG NUMBER Refused Classification (RC). The Board was of the view that the content of this game exceeded the R 18+ classification, as per the Guidelines for the Classification of Computer Games which state that: “Implied sexual violence that is visually depicted, interactive, not justified by context or related to incentives or rewards is not permitted”.

– Classification Board, Annual Report 2014-2015

September 21, 2016
The Classification Board made 477 classification decisions for computer games in 2015–16 and received 32 complaints about computer games.

There were four complaints about the computer game HOTLINE MIAMI 2: WRONG NUMBER being Refused Classification (RC).

– Classification Board, Annual Report 2015-2016

Automated IARC ratings

In September 2015, HOTLINE MIAMI 2: WRONG NUMBER was banned again, this time under the International Age Rating Coalition (IARC) system. Once again, Devolver Digital was the applicant.

It was ported to Nintendo Switch in 2019 as part of the HOTLINE MIAMI COLLECTION.

Silly G. reports.
The HOTLINE MIAMI COLLECTION contains the original game and banned sequel HOTLINE MIAMI 2: WRONG NUMBER (2015). Initially, it received an MA15+ (Strong violence) rating under the automated International Age Rating Coalition (IARC) system, but was later changed to RC.

The HOTLINE MIAMI COLLECTION was released on Nintendo Switch on 19 August 2019 with the MA15+ (Strong violence) rating, but was pulled from their Australian eShop within 24 hours. Despite this, several locals were able to purchase the game.

In Australia, traditional peer-reviewed Classification Board ratings take precedence over automated IARC decisions. However, it is puzzling that online marketplaces such as the Nintendo eShop usually display IARC generated ratings by default for catalogue releases. As demonstrated, IARC generated classification can vary wildly from the peer-reviewed Classification Board decisions.

The RC rating for HOTLINE MIAMI COLLECTION backdated to 3 July 2019.

Complaints continue

September 15, 2021
The Board received 201 complaints about computer games, of which…one [was] about HOTLINE MIAMI 2: WRONG NUMBER.

– Classification Board
– Annual Report, 2020–2021

Second IARC MA15+

Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5 versions were released on 23 October 2023.

The following day, Devolver Digital received an IARC rating of MA15+ (Strong Sex Scenes, Strong Drug Use, Strong Coarse Language) under the title HOTLINE MIAMI 2: WRONG NUMBER REMAKE.


Paranautical Activity

Publisher Code Avarice / 2013 / MobyGames

In January 2016, PARANAUTICAL ACTIVITY was banned by the Classification Board because of for ‘illicit or proscribed drug use related to incentives or rewards’.

The applicant was Digerati Distribution.

Paranautical Activity (2013) - Game Cover 1
Cover

The National Classification Database gave the following reason for the RC-rating.

January 6, 2016
Games 1(a) The computer game is classified RC in accordance with the National Classification Code, Computer Games Table, 1.
(a) as computer games that “depict, express or otherwise deal with matters of sex, drug misuse or addiction, crime, cruelty, violence or revolting or abhorrent phenomena in such a way that they offend against the standards of morality, decency and propriety generally accepted by reasonable adults to the extent that they should not be classified.”

– Classification Board

RC for drug use

January 6, 2016
Digerati told me via email that they would “look at removing the ‘offending item'” to comply with the Classification Board’s requirements.

“The reason they gave was ‘illicit or proscribed drug use related to incentives and rewards’ – the prescribed drug in game is Adderall and picking up the item gives you a 15% speed increase,” Digerati’s Nick Alferi said.

– Australia just banned the game made by the dev who threatened Gabe Newell
article @ kotaku.com.au

What is Adderall?

January 2016
An item found in Gift Shops and Mini-Boss Rooms.
Increases the player’s speed by 1.15 the player’s movement speed.
Adderall is a drug that stimulates the part of the brain that causes hyperactivity.

– Adderall
– paranautical-activity.wikia.com
Paranautical Activity (2013) - The drug adderall
Buying Adderall

Reason for RC-rating

September 21, 2016
PARANAUTICAL ACTIVITY is, largely, a first-person shooter, challenging players to progress through eight levels of randomly generated combat rooms. In the opinion of the Board, this game warranted an RC classification in accordance with item 1(a) of the computer games table (clause 4) in the National Classification Code.

By completing designated achievements, the player ‘unlocks’ a variety of items that will assist in advancing through the levels. Once unlocked, the items can be purchased with ingame currency or the player will receive them as a reward for defeating the main bosses of a level.

One of the achievements, titled ‘Addicted’, is earned when the player successfully spends all their money gambling. ‘Addicted’ unlocks the item ‘Adderall’ which is depicted as a blue tablet and described as a ‘speed up’. Although the player is not visually depicted consuming the tablet, its use is implicit by the presence or absence of a blue tablet icon in the player’s inventory and by the rewarded increase in speed that assists in advancing through a level.

Adderall is the brand name of a realworld prescription drug known to be used recreationally and illicitly as a stimulant. It is also known to be addictive. It contains the substance Dexamphetamine, a proscribed drug as specified in Schedule 4 of the Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations.

In the Board’s opinion, the direct textual reference to the use of a proscribed drug, particularly one known to be highly addictive and currently of concern within the community, and the game’s treatment of drug use as both a reward and an incentive within gameplay, warrants the game being Refused Classification for ‘illicit or proscribed drug use related to incentives or rewards’.

– Classification Board, Annual Report 2015-2016

Okay on mobile

On January 16, eleven days after the RC-rating, PARANAUTICAL ACTIVITY was classified under the automated International Age Rating Coalition (IARC) system as M (Mature themes). This was followed in April 2018 by an MA15+ (Strong themes).

In both cases, Digerati Distribution was the applicant. It is unclear if these submissions had been modified.


MeiQ: Labyrinth of Death

Publisher Idea Factory International / 2015 / MobyGames

In June 2016, MEIQ: LABYRINTH OF DEATH was banned because of its depiction a child-like character.

The applicant was Idea Factory International.

MeiQ: Labyrinth of Death (2015) - Game Cover 1
Cover

The National Classification Database gave the following reason for the RC-rating.

June 21, 2016
Games 1(a)&(b) The computer game is classified RC in accordance with the National Classification Code, Computer Games Table, 1.
(a) as computer games that “depict, express or otherwise deal with matters of sex, drug misuse or addiction, crime, cruelty, violence or revolting or abhorrent phenomena in such a way that they offend against the standards of morality, decency and propriety generally accepted by reasonable adults to the extent that they should not be classified,” and
(b) “describe or depict in a way that is likely to cause offence to a reasonable adult, a person who is, or appears to be, a child under 18 (whether the person is engaged in sexual activity or not).”

– Classification Board

Banned reasons

June 23, 2016
MEIQ: LABYRINTH OF DEATH was refused classification as a result of sexualised content. In particular, sexualised content featuring, what appears to be, an underage character.

According to the Classification Board, the character Connie is under 18, therefore the gameplay described above constitutes a “simulation of sexual stimulation of a child”. The report states this is “offensive or abhorrent in such a way that it offends against the standards of morality, decency and propriety generally accepted by reasonable adults to the extent that it should not be classified.”

Also worthy of note: the Classification Board was explicit in stating that interactivity played a part in the decision to deny a classification to MEIQ: LABYRINTH OF DEATH. The report makes mention of guidelines, which state that repeated, interactive movements should be treated as having a higher impact compared to “similarly themed depictions of the classifiable elements in film”.

– Why that game was Refused Classification in Australia
article @ kotaku.com.au
MeiQ: Labyrinth of Death (2015) - The character named Connie
Connie

June 2016
The game features a variety of female characters dressed in provocative clothing with their cleavage emphasised by their clothing revealing the sides or underside of their breasts. The five main characters in the game are ‘Machina Mages’, females who pair with robot-like guardians in order to do battle. Four of the five – Estra, Flare, Maki and Setia, although of indeterminate age, are all adult-like, with voluptuous bosoms and large cleavage that are flaunted with a variety of skimpy outfits.

The fifth main character, Connie, is depicted as child-like in comparison. She is flat-chested, under-developed physically (such as the hips), is significantly shorter than the other characters and wears her hair in pigtails. She also has a child-like voice, wears colourful child-like clothing and appears naive in her outlook on life. She is also referred to as a “girl” by the other main characters. In the Board’s opinion, the character of Connie depicts a person who is, or appears to be, a child under 18.

The game features use of the Playstation Vita’s touchscreen feature, that allows the player to touch or run their finger across the touchscreen in order to make any female character’s breasts move in response. The chest area of Connie is viewed moving slightly when this occurs, which is significantly different from the greater movement viewed when one of the four adult-like female characters is touched.

Within the character menu, the player can also touch the head, hips and legs of a character and a voice clip plays in reaction. When the player touches Connie in this mode it prompts verbal responses from her – either, “So flat. Super-flat.”, “Smooth”, “Just a little squishy” or two variations of a perturbed “Woah” sound. The application accompanying the game states there is a reaction to either the breasts, head, hips or legs of a character being touched. The touch response to each is indeterminate, as the gameplay footage does not indicate which area of the body is being touched when a response is heard.

– Classification Board report

Comments & complaints

September 21, 2016
MEIQ: LABYRINTH OF DEATH is a dungeon crawler RPG for PlayStation Vita, which uses a system of pairing mages with robot-like guardians in order to battle. In the opinion of the Board, this game warranted an RC classification in accordance with items 1(a) and (b) of the computer games table (clause 4) in the National Classification Code.

This game features five main female characters including Connie who is underdeveloped physically (such as the hips), is significantly shorter than the other characters and wears her hair in pigtails. She also has a child-like voice, wears colourful child-like clothing and appears naive in her outlook on life. She is also referred to as a ‘girl’ by the other main characters who are all adult like. In the Board’s opinion, the character of Connie depicts a person who is, or appears to be, a child under 18.

The game features use of the PlayStation Vita’s touchscreen feature that allows the player to touch or run their finger across the touchscreen in order to make any female character’s breasts move in response. Within the character menu, the player can also touch the head, hips and legs of a character and a voice clip plays in reaction.

In the Board’s opinion, the ability to interact with the character Connie in the manner described above constitutes a simulation of sexual stimulation of a child. Therefore the computer game depicts, expresses or otherwise deals with matters of sex (in this case, a fantasy of sexual stimulation of a child) that is offensive or abhorrent in such a way that it offends against the standards of morality, decency and propriety generally accepted by reasonable adults to the extent that it should not be classified.

As the fantasy involves a child-like character, the computer game also describes or depicts in a way that is likely to cause offence to a reasonable adult, a person who is, or appears to be, a child under 18.

– Classification Board, Annual Report 2015-2016

September 2017
The Classification Board made 477 classification decisions for computer games in 2015–16 and received 32 complaints about computer games. Computer games which attracted the most complaints were CALL OF DUTY: BLACK OPS III; HOTLINE MIAMI 2: WRONG NUMBER; and MEIQ: LABYRINTH OF DEATH.

– Classification Board, Annual Report 2016-2017

The Bug Butcher

Publisher Awfully Nice Studios / 2016 / MobyGames

In July 2016, THE BUG BUTCHER was banned by the Classification Board due to ‘drug use related to incentives and rewards’.

The applicant was Triangle Studios.

The Bug Butcher (2016) - Game Cover 1
Cover

The National Classification Database gave the following reason for the RC-rating.

July 20, 2016
Games 1(a) The computer game is classified RC in accordance with the National Classification Code, Computer Games Table, 1. (a) as computer games that “depict, express or otherwise deal with matters of sex, drug misuse or addiction, crime, cruelty, violence or revolting or abhorrent phenomena in such a way that they offend against the standards of morality, decency and propriety generally accepted by reasonable adults to the extent that they should not be classified.”

– Classification Board

Developer comments

July 21, 2016
We have just heard back from Awfully Nice Studios, THE BUG BUTCHER’S developer and publisher. See below for their response:

“We have been in the age rating process for our upcoming console release in Australia. Seem like this triggered the ban from Steam as well. The reasoning behind is, is sad but at the same point also funny. We have a powerup called “Speed powerup” where Harry injects himself a surringe.

Looks like the combination of the injection with the word “Speed” someone could assume that it’s a drug. We are shocked but are trying to get in touch with Australia to see if we can fix this.”

Twitter @CensoredGaming

July 21, 2016
No hold your breath guys.Wanna know the reasoning behind this? Stay strong now dear friends: ……….. We have a powerup called “Speed Powerup” where Harry injects himself a surringe. And THAT could be as well seen as a drug. WTF!!!! Seriously Australia?

– Facebook @awfullynicestudios

August 9, 2016
Guess what…. Australia didn’t like our naming for “Speed Injection” and for that they banned us.
So we were forced to change the name of speed injection to “Boot Juice”. WAYYYYYYYY better now.

– Awfully Nice Studios
– steamcommunity.com

Refused Classification reasons

September 2017
THE BUG BUTCHER is a 2D side-scrolling, “shoot-em up” game, in which the player’s character, Harry, is an exterminator, tasked with cleansing an infested futuristic research facility on a distant planet. In the Board’s opinion, this game warranted being Refused Classification in accordance with item 1(a) of the computer games table (clause 4) of the Code.

One of the features in the game is performance enhancing “power ups” that become available as the player progresses through the game. The first power up is an item called a “Speed Injection”, which an NPC describes as providing “increased running speed, temporary invincibility, and a faster firing rate”. The item is depicted as a silver syringe icon, filled with aqua coloured liquid, with a needle at the bottom and a plunger at the top. Although the player is not visually depicted injecting the syringe, its use is implicit by its appearance in the bottom right corner of the screen, with its plunger pressed down and a surrounding ring indicator, depleting.

These depictions, accompanied by the rewarded increase in speed that assists in advancing through the game, imply that the character is injecting the substance in the syringe. “Speed” is a common street name for stimulant drugs, particularly those from the amphetamine drug family (including methamphetamine). These drugs are referred to as “speed” because they are synthetic psychostimulant drugs that speed up the workings of the brain. They are proscribed drugs, as specified in Schedule 4 of the Prohibited Imports Regulations.

In the Board’s opinion, owing to the implied textual and graphic reference (in the form of the syringe) to the use of a group of proscribed drugs which are known to be highly addictive and currently of concern to the community, and the insufficient delineation between the “Speed Injection” available in the game and real-world proscribed drugs, and the game’s treatment of implied drug use as both a reward and an incentive within gameplay, the game warranted being Refused Classification as it contained “drug use related to incentives and rewards”, which is impermissible in the R 18+ classification.

– Classification Board, Annual Report 2016-2017

M-rated after drugs renamed

On 25 October 2016, a censored version of THE BUG BUTCHER was passed with an M (Violence, online interactivity) rating.

The classification matrix described,
Moderate impact: violence
Mild impact: themes

Triangle Studios was the applicant.

September 2017
Subsequently, a modified version of the game was submitted wherein the “Speed Injection” had been renamed “Boot Juice”, allowing the game to be classified M, with consumer advice of “violence, online interactivity”.

– Classification Board, Annual Report 2016-2017

Mobile submissions

Triangle Studios have twice had a mobile version of THE BUG BUTCHER classified under the automated International Age Rating Coalition (IARC) system.

In October 2018, it received an M (Violence, Online interactivity) rating. This was followed in April 2019 by an MA15+ (Strong crude humour, Online interactivity).


Valkyrie Drive Bhikkhuni

Publisher PQube Ltd / 2015 / MobyGames

In August 2016, VALKYRIE DRIVE BHIKKHUNI was banned by the Classification Board due to implied sexual violence that was visually depicted, interactive, not justified by context, and related to incentives or rewards.

The applicant was PQube Ltd.

Valkyrie Drive Bhikkhuni (2015) - Game Cover 1
PS Vita Cover

The National Classification Database gave the following reason for the RC-rating.

August 9, 2016
Games 1(a) The computer game is classified RC in accordance with the National Classification Code, Computer Games Table, 1. (a) as computer games that “depict, express or otherwise deal with matters of sex, drug misuse or addiction, crime, cruelty, violence or revolting or abhorrent phenomena in such a way that they offend against the standards of morality, decency and propriety generally accepted by reasonable adults to the extent that they should not be classified.”

– Classification Board

Why was it banned?

September 2017
VALKYRIE DRIVE BHIKKHUNI is a Japanese thirdperson hack and slash adventure game in which the player controls “weaponised”, superpowered young women on the fictionalised island of Bhikkuni. In the opinion of the Board, this game warranted being Refused Classification in accordance with items 1(a) and (c) of the computer games table (clause 4) of the Code.

Playable characters within the game consist of a number of young women, all drawn in the typically stylised manner of anime characters. The characters are invariably depicted in scantily-clad costumes with exaggerated and oversized breasts which jiggle or undulate when the characters move.

Various interactions with the game’s characters take place in “The Communications Room” and “The Dressing Room”, including the ability to dress characters in a variety of outfits, and to “touch” them, using the game device’s touch-screen functionality or mapped “Quick Buttons”. The control guide for “Quick Buttons” includes “Move Breast”, “Move Breasts”, “Rub Upper Body”, “Rub Lower Body”, “Touch Chest” and “Touch Butt”. The player receives both “hit points” (as a reward for touch interactions, shown by an on-screen indicator), and “experience points”, which can increase the player’s overall ranking as well as providing access to various mini-games and challenges.

Costume changes and touch interactions within “The Dressing Room” consist of the player selecting a character and then choosing an outfit (e.g. bikini). The player is able to rotate the character model to inspect the outfit and to “touch” the character in the manner described above. Touch interactions are represented visually by marks (such as the skin reddening from contact) and movement on the character models, as well as through dialogue responses (subtitled in English on screen). Characters repeatedly say, “Don’t touch me there!”, “What do you think you’re doing?”, “No!”, “You can’t do that!”, “Stop already!” and “You can’t touch me there.”

In the Board’s opinion, these character responses provide a clear implication of “sexual violence”, which the Guidelines define as “Sexual assault or aggression, in which the victim does not consent.” As the implied sexual violence is visually depicted, interactive, not justified by context, and related to incentives or rewards, it is not permitted within the R 18+ classification. The game was therefore Refused Classification.

– Classification Board, Annual Report 2016-2017

Complaints from gamers

September 2017
The Classification Board made 498 classification decisions for computer games in 2016–17 and received 65 complaints about computer games.

There were five complaints about the computer game VALKYRIE DRIVE BHIKKHUNI being Refused Classification (RC). On 9 August 2016, the Board classified VALKYRIE DRIVE BHIKKHUNI RC.

The Board was of the view that the content of this game exceeded the R 18+ classification, as per the Guidelines for the Classification of Computer Games which state that: “Implied sexual violence that is visually depicted, interactive, not justified by context or related to incentives or rewards is not permitted”

– Classification Board, Annual Report 2016-2017

Available on Steam

Despite being banned, VALKYRIE DRIVE BHIKKHUNI could, for a short time, be found on Steam.

June 12, 2017
We plan to make the game available worldwide; so if you see the product page then you should be able to buy it when it launches on Steam later this month.

– emo 185 [developer], steamcommunity.com

However, by August 2017, it had been removed.

August 10, 2017
Hello Everyone,

As of today, 10th August 2017, VALKYRIE DRIVE -BHIKKHUNI-, VALKYRIE DRIVE -BHIKKHUNI- Complete Edition and the VALKYRIE DRIVE -BHIKKHUNI- Complete DLC Pack are no longer available for purchase on Steam in Australia and Germany.

VALKYRIE DRIVE -BHIKKHUNI- was removed for sale in these countries in accordance with local legislation.

This announcement does not affect any other country and VALKYRIE DRIVE -BHIKKHUNI- will continue to be available to purchase on Steam in other countries.

Those who currently own VALKYRIE DRIVE -BHIKKHUNI- on Steam in Australia and Germany will still be able to play the game from their Steam library.

We are currently investigating the possibilities to make VALKYRIE DRIVE -BHIKKHUNI- available again in these countries.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused and we will provide updates when possible.

– Valkyrie Drive – Bhikkhuni- Australia & Germany store update
– emo 185 [developer], steamcommunity.com