The Wii U version of Ninja Gaiden 3, subtitled Razor’s Edge, is officially the first game to receive Australia’s mature R18+ rating. The game is due to be released sometime in January in Europe; the actual Australian release date has not been confirmed.
The Director of the Classification Board, Ms Lesley O’Brien issued a press release on behalf of her agency, stating, “Under the Guidelines for the Classification of Computer Games, R 18+ computer games will have a high impact and it is for this reason that these games are not suitable for under 18s. Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor’s Edge contains violence that is high in impact because of its frequency, high definition graphics, and emphasis on blood effects.”
For most of Australia, R18+ began an official rating on the 1st January 2013.