Final Fantasy XVI Will Not Be Released in Saudi Arabia

 

Final Fantasy XVI is a Mature-rated entry in the series, and according to the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) this is due to blood and gore, partial nudity, sexual themes, strong language and violence. While none of those aspects were singled out, Saudi Arabia’s General Commission for Audiovisual Media announced that the game will not be released in the region due to Square Enix’s unwillingness to make the necessary modifications to its content.

 

لمحبي لعبة #FinalFantasyXIV، نود التوضيح بأنها لم تفسح بالمملكة، وذلك بسبب عدم رغبة الناشر بإجراء التعديلات اللازمة.

الهيئة العامة للإعلام #المرئي_والمسموع #تصنيف_الألعاب pic.twitter.com/5OuWZJGEvX

— التصنيف العمري للألعاب الإلكترونية (@VGAR_SA) May 3, 2023

 

RELATED: Final Fantasy XVI Previews New Features, Kenshi Yonezu Theme Song

 

The ESRB listing offers a more detailed summary of its rating, describing blood-splatter effects, severed hands and similar acts of violence. It also lists references to prostitution and other sexual content, describes the nudity further and provides a couple examples of expletives.

 

Earlier this week, GCAM general supervisor Hattan Tawili alluded to the situation, saying one of the biggest games of the year was on its way to being banned after eight months of attempts to get its company to modify the content to suit the region.

 

The denial of release for Final Fantasy XVI is just one of many examples of games being banned in Saudi Arabia when they don’t meet the standards set forth through the Ministry of Media. Meanwhile, there has been a major push from the region to make moves within the video game industry itself, both in acquiring shares in existing companies like SNK and Nintendo and investing in local development. This includes efforts from crown prince Mohammad bin Salman—who in 2018 was implicated in the extrajudicial killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, the civil suit for which was eventually dismissed—and the Public Investment Fund (PIF).

 

Final Fantasy XVI is due out on PlayStation 5 on June 22.

 

Source: @VGAR_SA, Game Developer

 

 

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Joseph Luster is the Games and Web editor at Otaku USA Magazine. You can read his comics at subhumanzoids. Follow him on Twitter @Moldilox.