Tag Archive: Stefan Pakeerah

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.”

For the first time in ten years, the British Board of Film Classification has banned a video game for sale in the UK. Rockstar’s Manhunt 2 was rejected by the board for its "unrelenting focus on stalking and brutal slaying."

The ruling effectively means the game cannot be legally offered for sale within the United Kingdom.

"Manhunt 2 is distinguishable from recent high-end video games by its unremitting bleakness and callousness of tone in an overall game context which constantly encourages visceral killing with exceptionally little alleviation or distancing," said BBFC Director David Cooke. "There is sustained and cumulative casual sadism in the way in which these killings are committed, and encouraged, in the game."