Starfield, the upcoming sci-fi RPG from Bethesda Game Studios, has received a Restricted rating in Australia for “interactive drug use”, violence and some mild nudity. The Australian Classifications Board recently hit Starfield with a rating that recommends only those over 18 will be allowed to play the game due to the aforementioned elements.
The newly published rating in Australia breaks down Starfield‘s content into six categories: themes, violence, language, drug use, nudity and sex. Fortunately the game is mild in every category except for when it comes to drug use and violence. According to the ratings board, Starfield has “moderate impact” themes and language, “very mild impact” nudity and basically no sex (but I’m sure modders will offer “solutions” in due time).
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Starfield‘s violence, on the other hand, has been rated as “strong impact” while its drug use takes the cake for being the biggest reason behind the Restricted rating. The rating interestingly describes it as “interactive drug use” implying that we might actually be able to do drugs and interact with them in the game. You play as a space explorer that hops around planets and galaxies like you’re looking for a McDonald’s at 3AM, so some weird space psychedelics don’t seem too out-of-place.
We have yet to hear from the ESRB and PEGI ratings boards regarding Starfield‘s age restriction but if these Australian ratings are any indication, we can possibly expect Mature and 18+ ratings from those boards too. This falls in line with Bethesda Game Studios’ previous games, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and Fallout 4, which both got Mature ratings due to strong violence and also instances of mild nudity.
Starfield launches on 6 September 2023 for Xbox Series X/S and PC. Keep up-to-date with the ongoing Microsoft acquisition of Activision Blizzard here.
Source: Australian Ratings Board
