It was the alien anal probe what dunnit

The Australian Classification Board has revealed the reasons behind its decision to ban Saints Row IV.

The amusing reality was that the governing body was uncomfortable with the game’s inclusion of an Alien Anal Probe.

The game includes a weapon referred to by the Applicant as an ‘Alien Anal Probe’,” the statement read. The Applicant states that this weapon can be ‘shoved into enemy’s backsides’. The lower half of the weapon resembles a sword hilt and the upper part contains prong-like appendages which circle around what appears to be a large dildo which runs down the centre of the weapon.

When using this weapon the player approaches a (clothed) victim from behind and thrusts the weapon between the victim’s legs and then lifts them off the ground before pulling a trigger which launches the victim into the air. After the probe has been implicitly inserted into the victim’s anus the area around their buttocks becomes pixelated highlighting that the aim of the weapon is to penetrate the victim’s anus. The weapon can be used during gameplay on enemy characters or civilians.

In the Board’s opinion, a weapon designed to penetrate the anus of enemy characters and civilians constitutes a visual depiction of implied sexual violence that is interactive and not justified by context and as such the game should be Refused Classification.”

Publisher Deep Silver, however, has said that the game’s developer Volition intends to submit an altered version of the game for reclassification.

"Volition, the developer, are reworking some of the code to create a version of the game for this territory by removing the content which could cause offence without reducing the outlandish gameplay that Saints Row fans know and love,” a statement released to Joystiq read.