Illicit Copies of Hotline Miami 2 Pulled From Aussie PS5's as PlayStation Finally Catches On

Good times never last

by Khayl Adam 2am

Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number PS5 PS4 PlayStation

In shockingly un-Australian fashion, it appears someone has been talking to the authorities. After initially being refused classification at launch in 2015, Aussie players in the know have been able to enjoy the illicit Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number for the past year or so. Apparently, some genius simply forgot to apply that restriction to the bundled Hotline Miami Collection for PS5. Well, it seems the jig is up, and Sony has finally pulled digital access, issuing refunds automatically.

As noted by Eurogamer, it's kind of incredible that we got away with it as long as we did. Last October, the Hotline Miami Collection was released natively for PS5, and it just sort of slipped through the cracks. Aussie PS5 players enjoyed another knowing wink and a chuckle when the sordid sequel was, incredibly, later added to the PlayStation Plus Extra catalogue. We awoke to the below email from PlayStation:

Hotline Miami 2 fell afoul of the at-times draconian Australian Classification Board (ACB) initially due to an unskippable scene depicting simulated sexual violence, and memorably, designer Jonatan Söderström told Aussie fans to "just pirate it". Eurogamer reached out to Devolver Digital for comment on this surprise removal, and in typical, legendary fashion, the publisher replied with the following visual statement:

Sadly, we never got around to beating the second game and now likely never will (it wasn't as good as the first, anyway). Are you surprised to learn what a tight handle PlayStation has on the situation down under? Don't go talking to the coppers in the comments section below, mate.

[source eurogamer.net]

Khayl Adam is Push Square's roving Australian correspondent, a reporter tasked with scouring the internet for the richest, most succulent PlayStation stories. With five years of experience as a freelance journalist and mercenary wordsmith, RPGs are his first great love, but strategy and tactics games are a close second, genres in which he is only too happy to specialize.

1
nessisonett
2:09am

I always forget that Australia still has these strict ratings boards. A lot of countries have gone through phases over the years but it’s pretty standardised by now.

2
LuXifer
2:19am

Glad it's pulled down again, who knows how many degenerates it would've created. We know all too well that without censorship gamers and nerds would afflict horrible acts upon the world. 🤡

Stay pure our Aussie brothers and sisters. 😁

This is why i hate not being able to change your PSN home country, I lived in Australia when i bought my PS3, Vita and PS4 so I have all my purchase history and trophies on my Ozzie account. I'm now back in NZ but still use my Oz account (have to use PCGAMESUPPLY to top it up) as i don't want to lose all my platinum's by starting a new account. I loved the first hotline game and always thought i'd get 2 at some stage, but i'd have to work arounds to get it now

4
jvecc
2:49am

I was surprised when it came out in the bundle last year I just assumed it was reclassified. Didn't play through it much it didn't feel as good as the first one.

5
Khayl
2:50am

@nessisonett, it's generally pretty good here these days; this and South Park: Stick of Truth are probably the most high-profile examples, and that was back in 2013 before we had an R18+ rating.

6
Digit2021
3:14am

So this means there will be no more sexual violence in Australia now this game is unavailable? Thank you now everyone feels safer.
How many sexual violence crimes were commited where the criminal blamed this game for having them do it? I hate it when they blame computer games for peoples actions, maybe mental health should be looked at or the lack of ease of access to mental health in this country.
There was a news report about the increase of youths stealing cars, and one professor stated that it's due to GTA being publicly available. If a person thinks they can do in real life what they can do in a computer game, then they have had a mental health disorder prior regardless of the media they consume.

7
Beetlebum91
3:15am

Absolutely pathetic. I bought this on switch after I saw it on a nintendo direct thinking it would be pulled off the estore and it was within 24 hours. We allow stuff like terrifier to be played in theatres in Australia but can't have pixels. What a joke.

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