Video game censorship is a practice that has been around since the Iron Age. Different cultures and regions may have different views and perceptions of some content, and those who review and approve games for localization must decide what is and isn’t appropriate for audiences. Changes have been made to various elements of video games over the years; from minor things like character models and clothing, to larger plot segments, like the recent “anal probing” sequence in South Park: The Stick of Truth. Those who have experienced previous Wolfenstein games should know that Nazi imagery has a large presence in the series. As the subject matter is a sensitive topic, German versions of Wolfenstein: The New Order will have Nazi references cut from the game. You could bring an international copy into Germany, but I wouldn’t try it….In this case, the act of doing would be a criminal offense.
According to German law, the usage of Nazi-related content outside of academic or historical use is strictly prohibited. If an individual is in possession of a form of media that contains such content, whether it’s a movie, video game or something within a TV series, he/she is in direct violation of “§§ 86, 86a StGB (German Criminal Code)“. The individual in question could face a severe fine, or up to 3 years in prison. The law extends past the immediate party, as related companies- such as video game developers- could also face prosecution.
According to a new post on Bethesda’s official blog “Bethblog”, the German version of The New Order will not feature Nazi imagery in its content, to comply with national laws. Bethesda assures fans that this is the only alteration to this version, as “although there are some legally required differences, the levels of violence and action remain the same as in the international version“. Digital and physical copies of the PC version will also be geo-locked, or better known as “region-locked”. This prevents German PC gamers from purchasing and activating international copies of the game. Bethesda also states that the international version will not be available for purchase within Austria.
Wolfenstein: The New Order isn’t the only game to cause an international stir in recent history. A selection of scenes were “cut” from the Australian version of South Park: The Stick of Truth; the scenes in question were replaced by an image of a crying koala and a summary of the missing segment. Saints Row IV was temporarily banned in Australia due to “The Rectifier” weapon and the usage of “alien narcotics”, or simply put, alien drugs.
Wolfenstein: The New Order releases on May 20 for PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360 and Xbox One.