Ubisoft title Star Wars Outlaws has been rated 19+ in South Korea because it includes in-game betting and 'representations of speculative behavior.'
Star Wars Outlaws might be out sooner than planned, based on its listing on a South Korean games rating board.
Ubisoft’s upcoming action adventure title was given a 19+ rating on March 21 by Korea’s games rating board, the Game Rating Administration Committee.
According to a description on the committee’s website, a 19+ rating is given to titles which have 'representations of anti-societal idea, religion and public morals that would be harmful to children under 19 emotionally and physically.'
In the case of Star Wars Outlaws, the the listing highlights two reasons for the rating. The first mentions 'realistic simulation of speculative behavior,' while the other refers to a 'mini-game which contains in-game betting and dividends'.
It’s unclear what kind of mini-game the listing is referring to (maybe a game of Sabacc?), but gambling in Korea is illegal, which likely explains the high rating it received.
The description for the 19+ bracket specifically mentions gambling. According to the committee, a game will be rated 19+ for the 'reproduction of gambling spirit (existence of arousing of passion of excessive use of gaming money, or dependence on one’s luck, but no real gaming or loss of one’s asset).'
Giving a game an age rating typically indicates it’s close to release, but Ubisoft has not yet announced a specific date for Star Wars Outlaws and has not mentioned it this year.
It is currently planned for 2024, but with Assassin’s Creed Red anticipated in late 2024, there’s speculation it could launch earlier in the summer. If that happens, we might hear some announcement on May 4, also known as Star Wars Day.
Recently, the upcoming remake of Silent Hill 2 also appeared on the South Korean age rating website, with rumors suggesting a May release date.
