DayZ has finally shown out a physical version after five years of its digital release. Unfortunately, Australia has refused the game from classification.
What is happening with DayZ?
With suspicion, the Australian Classification Board (ACB) has listed the Game into a lot of harmful content sections. They told that the game is related to misuse or addiction, sex, crime, cruelty, violence. Even more, it also seems dreadful or repugnant phenomena that go against usual moral standards.
Thanks to a recent Kotaku Australia's article, we would know the exact reason for the incident. Bizarrely, the thing related to the cause is not currently active in the game yet!
It's cannabis - the reason why ACB is aiming to ban the digital version of the game.
"Through general gameplay, the player can collect and use a variety of equipment, supplies, and weaponry," the ACB reported.
Many Twitter users also have noted cannabis in files of a trial version. However, the game still does not perform the feature. There is a thought that it will appear in an upcoming patch, included in this physical version. Anyway, ACB has identified and forced publishers to eliminate all features related to cannabis in the game.
Can the publishers save the situation?
DayZ's physical distributor of Five Star Games applied for release, which ACB removed on 4th June. The method for rating the physical releases in Australia is different. They use the International Age Rating Coalition tool to automatically give ratings based on developers' feedback. Therefore, it could have a chance to qualify for digital release with an MA15 + evaluation (via IARC process).
Publisher Bohemia Interactive has pointed out that the physical rating (via PC Gamer) would not affect the digital version. However, the game still faces the risk of removal from Steam, PlayStation, and Xbox One stores with the ACB's decision.
In the meantime, Bohemia Interactive has now responded to the situation via the DayZ Twitter account. It wowed to "do everything in [its] power to keep the game playable and available for Australian gamers."
It is not the first case that violates Australia's conservative rules related to drugs. In 2013, State of Decay was in the same situation for containing drugs with healing properties. Similarly, Fallout 3 had to rename a morphine item into Med-X before their distribution in Australia.
As a result, publishers should pay more attention to these rules to avoid such prohibition of release!