Summary
Microsoft announces thatGears of War: Reloaded’s PS5 version won’t be released in Japan. This isn’t the first time the franchise has had to cancel a launch in the region. In 2015, the originalGears of Warremaster,Ultimate Edition, was also forced to postpone its release in Japan due to legal conflicts. A decade later, the franchise’s second attempt at remastering the first title appears to be running into similar issues, though this time, only PS5 players are affected.
According toXbox Wire, the PS5 edition ofGears of War: Reloadedfailed to meet regional rating restrictions and platform policies in Japan. As a result, the remaster will skip PlayStation on August 27, when it’s set to release globally. What makes the news particularly disappointing is thatGears of War: Reloadedincludes PS5 Pro-exclusive enhancements, features now out of reach for Japanese fans. Interestingly, the Xbox, PC, and Steam versions are still set to launch in Japan as planned, making the situation all the more puzzling.
Gears of War: Reloaded May Be Too Gory for the Japanese Fanbase
Due to regional rating restrictions and platform policies, Gears of War: Reloaded will not be released for PlayStation 5 in Japan.
Japan’s video game age rating system has often been criticized for double standards. For instance,Stellar Bladewas approved for players aged 17and up, while CERO, the country’s main rating board, refused to rate theDead Space remakeentirely due to its violent content. That said,Stellar Bladehas shown a willingness to censor its content, which might explain how it secured a rating in gore- and violence-averse Japan. Regardless, it seemsGears of War: Reloadedis entangled in the same controversial red tape that once affected theDead Spaceremake.
Given thesuccess of previous Xbox-published titles on PS5, it’s likely thatGears of War: Reloadedwill be a well-received game on Sony’s platform.Oblivion Remasteredrecently topped the PS5 charts in the US, andForza Horizon 5also attracted strong interest from PlayStation players. Considering this, it’s unfortunate that Xbox and PlayStation haven’t been able to reach an agreement with the regulators to bringGears of War: Reloadedto the PS5 in Japan.
Gears of War: Reloaded
WHERE TO PLAY
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