Compulsion Games’ indie adventure We Happy Few didn’t have it easy. Despite developmental troubles, the game had been banned in Australia due to the portrayal of drug use in the game.
Australia’s National Classification Code states that games depicting “drug misuse or addiction … in such a way that they offend against the standards of morality, decency and propriety generally accepted by reasonable adults” will be refused classification. “A player who takes Joy can reduce gameplay difficulty, therefore receiving an incentive by progressing through the game quickly. Although there are alternative methods to complete the game, gameplay requires the player to take Joy to progress,” the board stated in its original ruling.
Yet, things seems to be turning around for the dystopian adventure as The Australian Classification Board is reviewing its ban on We Happy Few’s release this July. The Board will meet on July 3, and has opened up public submissions for anyone who wants to stand “as an interested party to this review”, though it will only be taking submissions specifically regarding We Happy Few rather than classification policies.
Australia has had disputes regarding maturer and violent content in games in the past before. Its no surprise that Australian gamers are fed up with the policies of the government that didn’t initially had an actual R18+ classification. There have been online petitions asking that the game be released in Australia.
The game is slated for an August 10 release for PC, PS4 and Xbox One.
Credit: PC Gamer
Australia is the last bastion of decency in this world. While the rest of the planet devolves into savagery. Australia will uphold the morals and principles of a Good Mannered Human.