Upcoming horror game The Callisto Protocol banned in Japan due to high levels of violence

The game is still scheduled for a release here in December.

CERO, aka the Computer Entertainment Rating Organization Video Game Rating System in Japan, has effectively banned the release of upcoming horror game The Callisto Protocol in the country. The new game, which comes from the co-creator of hit sci-fi horror series Dead Space, is set in the year 2320 at a prison colony called Black Iron, located on Jupiter's moon Callisto. The player takes the role of a prisoner Jacob Lee (portrayed in the game by actor Josh Duhamel), who is being held at Black Iron, finding themselves in the midst of an alien invasion that appears to have been engineered by the prison's warden. Dr. Serkan Toto, the CEO of Japan's gaming consultancy Kantan Games, tweeted the following: "The Callisto Protocol's release is canceled in Japan. Local ratings agency CERO did not like the level of violence in the game, and the developer refuses to comply with their demands." The game's developers also took to Twitter to announce the following (via translation): "The Japanese version of The Callisto Protocol has been decided to be discontinued. At present, we have decided that we will not be able to pass the CERO rating, and if we change the content, we will not be able to provide the experience that the player expects. We would appreciate if everyone in Japan can understand this situation. We will refund those who have pre-ordered." The Callisto Protocol will debut on PlayStation, Xbox and PC on Friday, 2 December.