It’s a historic moment as Gears of War heads to PlayStation, but the PS5 version of Reloaded has been canceled in Japan, leaving thousands of fans empty-handed. Xbox has confirmed the game will not launch for Japanese PS5s due to “regional rating restrictions and platform policies.”

Microsoft made headlines by announcing that Gears of War: Reloaded—a graphically enhanced return of the iconic shooter—would be available on both Xbox and PlayStation 5. However, not everyone will get to play: the PlayStation edition has been canceled in Japan, shut down by that country’s strict video game rating system.

As reported by The Gamer, the news was first published on the Japanese Xbox Wire website: “Due to regional rating restrictions and platform policies, Gears of War: Reloaded will not be available on PlayStation 5 in Japan.” The post continues, “Local players will still be able to play on launch day via Xbox Series X|S, Xbox PC, Game Pass, and Steam. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause to those in Japan who have been looking forward to the launch of this title.”

So what went wrong with the age rating? Gamers know that CERO, Japan’s console video game rating board, has a reputation for strictness—rejecting titles with heavy violence or graphic bloodshed. According to Japanese outlet Game*Spark, Gears of War: Reloaded on PS5 was killed off specifically for this reason.

One Microsoft insider explained the game never received CERO certification for PS5. “The main factors were blood, cruel depictions, and intense violent expressions, so a CERO rating could not be obtained.” The Xbox Series version gets around this thanks to the IARC rating—an alternative global system—allowing Gears of War: Reloaded to launch in Japan without passing through CERO. (A similar scenario has played out with the upcoming MindsEye.)

There’s a Beta for Gears of War: Reloaded—but Not for Everyone!

Meanwhile, Gears fans worldwide are counting down to the Reloaded release. Scheduled for August 26, The Coalition and Microsoft will also host a limited beta for hands-on testing—but not everyone is invited. Access is restricted to Game Pass Ultimate/PC Game Pass members, digital owners of Gears of War: Ultimate Edition, and players who pre-ordered Reloaded in the last few weeks.

Source: 3djuegos