BBFC rejects revised Manhunt 2

The British Board of Film Classification has rejected a revised version of Rockstar’s Manhunt 2, accusing the publisher of ‘ignoring’ its suggestions for changes to the game’s content.

The original version of Manhunt 2 was turned down by the BBFC in June for its ‘unremitting bleakness and callousness of tone’.

David Cooke, Director of the BBFC said:

We recognise that the distributor has made changes to the game, but we do not consider that these go far enough to address our concerns about the original version.

The impact of the revisions on the bleakness and callousness of tone, or the essential nature of the gameplay, is clearly insufficient. There has been a reduction in the visual detail in some of the ‘execution kills’, but in others they retain their original visceral and casually sadistic nature.

We did make suggestions for further changes to the game, but the distributor has chosen not to make them, and as a result we have rejected the game on both platforms. The decision on whether or not an appeal goes ahead lies with the distributor.”

It is unclear whether the new edition was the same as that

approved for a ‘Mature’ Rating

by US rating board the ESRB in August.

Rockstar’s last hope to get the game released in the UK now rests with the Video Appeals Committee, which is expected to hear the

publisher’s plea later this year

.

Rockstar’s appeal with the VAC was suspended as the BBFC considered the revised version of Manhunt 2 for classification.