Microsoft's line-up of games for the launch of its Xbox One game console will have to do without one major title in Germany. Microsoft has confirmed that the country's BPjM (Bundeprüfstelle für jugendgefährende Medien, or the Federal Department for Media Harmful to Young Persons) has banned the sale of Capcom's open world zombie action game Dead Rising 3 in Germany.
The decision is not a huge shock; Germany also banned the sale of the first two games in the Dead Rising series. In a statement, Microsoft told Destructoid:
While Microsoft is disappointed with this decision, we respect the views of the review panel and have withdrawn Dead Rising 3 from Germany’s Xbox One launch line-up. Dead Rising 3 will still be available in all other launch markets on 22 November 2013. Beyond that, we have no further comment.
The BPjM panel typically bans console and PC games which it feels promote violence against humans or human-like characters, even if those characters are undead zombies. In the past, the panel has banned many other major games including Left 4 Dead 2 and Scarface: The World is Yours, for the same reasons.
However, the government can also reverse their decisions on game sales after a certain period of time. In 2011, the panel, which had previously banned Doom I and II, along with the first Quake game from id Software, from being sold to anyone under the age of 18, finally allowed those titles to be sold in the country to people 16 years of age and older.
Some disagree with the German government's stance against violent games. In 2012, for example, the producer of Dead Island: Riptide, Sebastian Reichert, told VG247 that he was frustrated by the inconsistent application of the policies, which had resulted in his game being banned there, while other similarly violent games remained on sale: "I'm really confused that you can buy Gears of War 3 in stores in Germany, but not Dead Island," he said. "Because what's the difference?"
Source: Destructoid | Image via Capcom
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