The Australian Classification Board (ACB) is the statutory body of the Australian Government responsible for the classification and censorship of films, video games and publications.
History[]
The ACB was established as agency of the Australian Government in 1970. With a government reorganisation in 1994, it became part of a new parent agency, the Office of Film and Literature Classification (OFLC). Also at this time, classifications for video games were launched: G (suitable for all ages), G 8+, M 15+ and MA 15+.
In 2005, the OFLC was dissolved and supervision of the ACB transferred to the Attorney-General's Department. As of 2020, it is now an agency of the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications.
The seperate video game ratings were retired in May 2005 and replaced with redesigned, colour-coded symbols, to be used on both film and video game releases. The R 18+ rating, however, continued to be used exclusively for films.
In August 2014, the ACB introduced amendments to allow for the automated classification process employed by the International Age Rating Coalition. This new process reduces the costs of video game developers as they seek to obtain ratings for their products that are distributed digitally online.
R 18+ for video games[]
The introduction of the R 18+ classification for video games had been a topic of much debate over the years. It was already in use for film since the late 1980s, but did not apply to video games at the time. This was the subject of complaint in the gaming community, who argued that there is no reason why adults should be prevented from seeing content in games that they could see in a film.
Video game classification in Australia is often considered to be one of the strictest in the western world, and as such many games which didn't align to the ACB's MA 15+ rating had to be censored or were banned. Public opinion, however, was found to be in favour of an R 18+ rating for games, with roughly 80% in support in a December 2010 poll.
At a meeting of State and Territories' Attorneys-General on 22 July 2011, an in-principle agreement was reached for its introduction. Despite previously abstaining from the vote, on August 10, New South Wales Attorney-General Greg Smith agreed to the rating’s introduction.
The R 18+ classification was finally implemented for video games on 1 January 2013. The first game classified with an R 18+ rating was Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge, on 11 January 2013.
Ratings[]
All except one of the ACB's ratings are used for video games. The X 18+ rating is solely used for film and video releases that are pornographic in nature.
| Icon | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
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| General | ||
| General viewing suitable for everyone. | Rayman Origins | |
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Parental Guidance
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| Not recommended for audiences under the age of 15 without guidance from a parent or guardian. | Ratchet & Clank: Tools of Destruction | |
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Mature
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| Recommended for mature audiences over the age of 15. | Marvel's Spider-Man | |
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| Mature Accompanied 15+ | ||
| Restricted to audiences over the age of 15, unless accompanied by a parent or guardian. | Uncharted 2: Among Thieves | |
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| Restricted 18+ | ||
| Restricted to audiences over the age of 18. | South Park: The Stick of Truth | |
Other labels[]
| Icon | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| ||
| Exempt | ||
| Exempt from classification. | Paint Park | |
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| Check the Classification | ||
| The content has been assessed and approved for advertising but not yet classified. Check the classification closer to the release date. | ||
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| Refused Classification | ||
| The content falls outside generally accepted community standards. Cannot be sold, hired, advertised or legally imported in Australia. | Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number | |
Ratings history[]
| G | G 8+ | M 15+ | MA 15+ | ||
| 1994–2005 | 
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| G | PG | M | MA 15+ | R 18+ | |
| 2005–2013 | |
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| 2013–present |
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