UK Upholds Ban on Revised Manhunt 2

The British Board of Film Classification has upheld its ban on Rockstar Games' Manhunt 2, even after the company revised and resubmitted the game to censors.

The British Board of Film Classification has rejected a revised version of Rockstar Games’ Manhunt 2. The BBFC had rejected the studio’s initial version of the game back in June, maintaining that the game “encourages visceral killing.” Rockstar Games made changes and resubmitted the game for classification, but it has again been rejected by the board.

“There has been a reduction in the visual detail in some of the ‘execution kills’, but in others they retain their original visceral and casually sadistic nature,” said BBFC director David Cooke, in a statement. “We do not consider that these [changes] go far enough to address our concerns about the original version.”

The ban means the game may not be offered for sale in the UK. Rockstar Games may choose to appeal the decision, or to make further changes to the game and re-submit it for reclassification. The BBFC says it has offered suggested for further changes in the game which may result in an approval. The modified version of the game is slated to go on sale in the United States by the end of October.

The original game Manhunt has been cited as an inspiration in the 2004 stabbing death of 14 year-old Stefan Pakeerah by 17 year-old Warren LeBlanc. The parents of Stefan Pakeerah have attacked the original game, although police have not said they uncovered any evidence the game played a role in LeBlanc’s murder of Pakeerah.