The upcoming action-adventure video game Metal Gear Solid 5, from developer Kojima, has been given an 'M' rating - indicating 'Mature' - by the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB). This, according to the organisation, was due to the in-game content that has sexual and intense violence, strong language, blood and gore.
The game has created immense excitement among fans for its abundance of realism in both gameplay and cutscenes. The studio has tried to keep the game as realistic as possible with most of the cutscenes and gameplay, showcasing gore during fights between characters.
"This is an action game in which players assume the role of an elite soldier through military missions in Cuba. Players infiltrate various bases and use pistols, machine guns, and rocket launchers to kill enemy soldiers. Firefights are highlighted by realistic gunfire, slow-motion effects, and large blood-splatter effects. Players can also employ stealth attacks (e.g., choking, knife stabbing from behind) and have the ability kill non-adversary characters/prisoners," the ratings summary reads.
It further elaborates on the usage of strong words and also sexual content like the one below where a female character is being assaulted sexually via a audio file, "One cutscene includes a depiction of blood and gore (e.g., a character's intestines exposed during a dramatic procedure to remove an object). The game includes an audio file in which a female character is sexually assaulted by male characters; while there is no visual depiction, sounds of ripped clothing and struggle can be heard. The words "f**k" and "sh*t" are heard in the dialogue."
There have been only a very few games which have been categorized under sexual violence, with the last being 2006's Animamundi.
Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes is expected to be released 18 March in North America and 20 March in Europe for PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360 and Xbox One platforms. This will be followed by a bigger game - Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain that is planned for release by 2014 end.
