Last week, we reported on how We Happy Few’s initial denial by the Australian Classifications Board due to its perceived glorification of drug use was being considered for an appeal that would overturn the denial. Now, the game’s developer Compulsion Games has announced that the appeal was successful, which means that when We Happy Few launches in full next month, it will be available for purchase in the land down under.
Compulsion Games confirmed the Australian approval via a new blog post on its website, saying that the Australian version of We Happy Few will be rated R18+:
“Hi all,
After considering our appeal to get We Happy Few reviewed for classification, the Australian Classification Review Board has decided to allow the release of We Happy Few in Australia!
We went to a great deal of effort to get this decision overturned. We Happy Few will be rated R18+ in Australia.
We are extremely pleased with the decision of the board and excited that our Australian fans and new players will be able to experience We Happy Few without modification.
We want to thank everybody who got involved in the discussion, contacted the board and sent us countless messages of support. Your involvement made a huge difference.”
The Australian Classification Board’s initial issue with We Happy Few had to do with a gameplay element involving the imbibing of a euphoria-inducing drug called Joy. As part of the game’s narrative, ordinary citizens take Joy to suppress their bad memories, but prolonged use of the drug also shuts off their moral inhibitors, turning them into sociopathic Joy-slaves who would happily kill anyone they perceive as “downers” (i.e. those who refuse to take Joy). The player controls one of these downers, but they can also take small quantities of Joy to better blend in with the crowd and avoid suspicion.
It’s not clear what, if any, changes Compulsion made to We Happy Few in order to have the game approved, but Australian fans will likely find out the answer to that question when the game launches on August 10. For more on We Happy Few, be sure to read our previous coverage of the game’s pre-order incentives.