You Won’t Be Able to Buy Adult Games on Windows 8’s Marketplace

[DJ aka GDR DJ]

You Won’t Be Able to Buy Adult Games on Windows 8’s Marketplace

 

 

Casey Muratori wrote a great piece yesterday speaking out against Microsoft's Windows 8 for all kinds of reasons, but one point that struck me was his suggestion that, because there are age restrictions on the operating system's marketplace, this would affect adult video games.

Surely not, I thought. Microsoft wouldn't be that stupid. That must be a rule for regular apps, and games will be just fine.

Turns out they won't be. A Microsoft representative confirmed with Kotaku today that, yes, section 6.2 of the Windows App guidelines applies to video games as well. That section reads:

 

...apps with a rating over PEGI 16, ESRB MATURE, or a corresponding rating under other ratings systems... are not allowed.

 

 

For the United States, that's not exactly an issue. Not many major video games ever receive a rating beyond "Mature", the only notable exceptions being the PC version of Manhunt 2, the Director's Cut of Indigo Prophecy and, during the "Hot Coffee" scandal, Grand Theft Auto San Andreas.

But for other markets, it's a bit of a disaster. Europe especially. Here are some games that have, only recently, been awarded Europe's PEGI 18 rating, which under Microsoft's rules would mean they'd be excluded from the Windows 8 marketplace.

 

• 
  The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
  The Witcher II
  Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
  Max Payne 3
  The Walking Dead
  Sleeping Dogs
  Dishonored
  Mass Effect 2
  Mass Effect 3
  LA Noire
  Spec Ops: The Line
  Fallout: New Vegas
  Deus Ex
  Assassin's Creed: Revelations

 

 

So, yeah, nearly all of the biggest and best games released in the past three years. Good thinking there, Microsoft.

 

Of course, this doesn't ban the games from the operating system entirely. You can still install them and boot them up like you do now. It just means that, unless the publishers could be bothered cutting all adult content from their games, they won't be available from Microsoft's own store, and because of that won't be able to access a lot of Windows 8's fancier functionality.

I'm trying to think of a reason for this beyond Microsoft's US staff simply not thinking through the ramifications this would have on European publishers and gamers, really trying, but I just can't find one.

If you haven't yet read Muratori's piece, you really should, as it goes on to explain why this "bifurcating" of the operating system—in which a schism opens up between games supporting Win 8's marketplace and those which don't—could wind up a complete disaster for Windows 8 and Microsoft itself.

 

Of course, he's not alone in his overall thoughts on the matter: Valve's Gabe Newell suspects the OS could be a "catastrophe".

 

source

[TulsaGeoff]

_{I'm sure that I'm not the only one who thought the topic meant something else :X}

[ajnl]

I'm trying to think of a reason for this beyond Microsoft's US staff simply not thinking through the ramifications this would have on European publishers and gamers, really trying, but I just can't find one.

 

I didn't realize that Microsoft's staff thought about anything at all anyways...

 

_{I'm sure that I'm not the only one who thought the topic meant something else :X}

 

hahaha definitely

 

 

Edited October 12, 2012 by ajnl

[DJ aka GDR DJ]

_{I'm sure that I'm not the only one who thought the topic meant something else :X}

good headline more readers

[Vanaraud]

The good thing is I´ve tried different betas and none have even booted up, so Im nothing to worry about as win8 just doesn´t install on my PC:P

[Jefke]

Wasn't planning to use that store anyway, don't like the idea of an intregrated store :s

[TulsaGeoff]

I hate all software vendors that force patrons to link games to their accounts. It is not fair for PC gamers to not be able to resell their games.

[Jefke]

I hate all software vendors that force patrons to link games to their accounts. It is not fair for PC gamers to not be able to resell their games.

 

That's why I like gog.com

[nrgy]

_{I'm sure that I'm not the only one who thought the topic meant something else :X}

 

lol I thought he meant something else too - that's why I came to the thread

[parrot]

I also dislike promoting too much integration. Think I'll keep buying games through steam.

[TulsaGeoff]

I like integration but I believe you should be entitled to sell anything you purchase.

[ajnl]

you should be entitled to sell anything you purchase.

 

yeah for sure

[detoren]

I purchased a car drivers licence is there someone who like to buy it ? age probb dont matter .

[BnBChumMaster]

Microshaftittoya

[MoAZeR]

I won't care as i will have linux installed with win 7 on my pc