The Last of Us 2 Has Apparently Been Banned in Some Countries

Unfortunately some cultures do not agree with LGBT, this was 100% due to happen. With that and violence which is still banned in some countries it was inevitable.

Countries with poor freedom of speech records in game censorship shocker!

This game can't catch a break. The response its getting is exactly why devs dont take risks anymore.

It will be fascinating to see where naughty dog go from here - and particularly what they plan to work on next

Same old story with some of these Middle Eastern Countries. Nothing new here, but something to be expected. I’m sure those there that want to actually play the game will find a way to get hold of it.

Some places know bad IP's.

If my country banned this game I would 100% move to another one just to play it

@AFCC Or you could just take the easier approach and make a UK/US PSN account 😉

With what we've seen so far in the trailers and gameplay that was shown legitimately, I'm not too surprised.

@DonJorginho that wouldn't be that dramatic x)

I just make sure I am never on a flight that lands on any of these places.

The backwater mentality of a few has never stopped any creative field. It can be a GOV in the Middle East or pockets of Ignorant people here in the USA (I always pay whatever extra to fly direct over the middle part also)

They are irrelevant in the end.

So? Sony has also censored numerous Japanese games with very ''mature'' themes.

I didn't think it would be much sordid... Lol

Middle east do violence all the time and other crazy sh🤔t .and thats weird that a country that violent dont like this kind of violence.word up son

Yet another reminder that censorship is evil and ineffective no matter who is doing it.

Lmao, pretty sure I’m banned from those countries as well. Their loss.

Karma for all the awful copyright claiming by naughty dog, the studio leadership has been acting like children for a while now, disappointing

Well, is expected since the game is loaded with ideological propaganda not accepted on those cultures. Some games like MK11 also got the same treatment in Japan for being too violent.

Actually Sony also censor games from japan for having panties, so... gay bad on Middle-east and panties bad on the Liberal West.

@Makina While I'm sure you'll be relieved to know that the Saudi government shares your views, in reality telling a story that includes some LGBT characters =/= "ideological propaganda."

Do you also consider the huge number of games (and movies, and books) that feature straight white protagonists to be "propaganda"?

@Sondheimist I don't know. Are games with straight, black males as protagonists a form of ''propaganda>? Or do game devs just cater to a specific audience?

As much as I'd like to write this off as empty posturing by ultra-conservative governments - it will have the insiduous effect of further alienating an already vilified outgroup. It's a reminder of how much it sucks to be part of a scapegoated minority in authoritarian cultures where even acknowledging the existence of people like you is considered "propaganda." (See also Russia giving the live-action "Beauty and the Beast" remake the equivalent of an R-rating because of a fleeting shot of two men dancing. It defies logic and common sense, but it reinforces existing prejudices and the established social order - which can be useful for unscrupulous leaders.)

It'll be because (and this is hardly a spoiler seeing as it's in the DLC and widely known) Ellie is gay. Rocketman got banned there for the same reasons.

Put out a trailer where people get limbs broken and eviscerated then that's just fine and dandy, but don't even think of falling in love with someone with the same genitals. I'm sorry but I just can't fathom that way of thinking.

@eumenes I Don't Remember Sony Ever Banning Any Of Those Japanese Game Before Do You?

In a post apocalyptic world I think this would be more common. It was also in the original story. Ellie see's Joel as a protector she not a man hater. Any one can disagree with the content and not buy it. But taking it to a campaign to influence others to boycott the game is a way over the top reaction. I changed my pre-order to the collectors edition partly because of the hate.

Well Ellie's a lesbian what we have known for years and the game is meant to have a Trans character in it so yeah of course its getting banned in these countries.

@eumenes Mature? Anime girls who look like teens with their boobs out designed to appeal to pervy boys and men is not mature its the opposite. From the sounds of things TLoUP2 will feature nudity and sexual content so its not like Sony are against it.

@Areus Since they moved headquarters to California they've been on a censorship spree.

@Johnnycide Yet people like you remain silent when the likes of Australia ban games for sexual and violent content. Or when Sony bans lewd games. Hypocrite.

I visited UAE recently and am a member of said minority. It's a double-standard up in there; yes, I think the last imprisonment took place in 2012 but things appear to be a lot more relaxed now (not officially, of course, and it doesn't help the ban). I was really shocked to see same sex couples openly expressing their affection towards each other on the streets and cafes (I know that they were locals and not tourists; don't ask me how, lol).

Someone made a comment how the ban will make things worse. The thing is that to bring progress things need to see the light of day, and there needs to be a fight; little by little it does make a difference even if it takes years. The ban is a reminder to a lot of people of what is going on out there, which I will call 'petty', even if it deserves to be called something a lot worse.

@eumenes and people like you want to look at sexualised images of children in Japanese media.

There's a term for that son, it's a lot worse than hypocrite.

@eumenes Dude Censoring And Banning A Game Are 2 Different Things Sony Has Censored Games This Much Is True But They Have Never Banned Those Same Games.

@Rob_230 “ This game can't catch a break. The response its getting is exactly why devs dont take risks anymore.”

I would say this is why they would not take risks until recently. Lately, more and more developers opt into taking risks with their stories, thankfully.

There will continue to be many that stick to playing it “safe” but the tide is headed mostly in the right direction.

Not too surprising unfortunately, considering other games that have been banned

@finalstan its also funny that they allow Netflix with all their rampant lgbt sjw propaganda but not this.

Is censorship not okay now?

@Areus @Areus LOL banning sexual content or outright banning games are the same thing. People are being punished either way. You're mad that this game is being banned because of the themes, sexual content and violence. Other people are mad that lewd games are being censored up to a point that it totally changes the core of the games. It's funny how violent games are allowed but a two second shot of a exposed butt needs to be covered with a lens flare! That's how ridiculous Sony's policies regarding mature content is.

[EDIT] Well that last comment has gone, and so is my reply. No point keeping it up on there now.

We've seen certain games get banned in places like Australia for certain depictions as well. My feeling on it is the same as when companies force censorship on fanservice, I don't like it, devs should be allowed to make what they want, if you don't like it you don't have to play it. In regards to this situation, out-right banning the game does nothing but piss people off and those in these countries who want to get the game will still be able to go through other channels to make it happen so I just don't see the point but governments will do what governments will do.

@Areus Unless I remember wrong, Sony ended up forcing Pqube to cancel their release of Omega Labyrinth Z.

@tobibra And The Game Still Got Released In The End Even In The Uk Where The Game Originally got Banned . All I'am Trying To Tell The Guy Above Is The Difference Between a Game Being Censored And Not Being Able To Buy The Game At All.

@eumenes MS had the same with DMCV and most of the other games just never release on that platform.

@Areus As far as I know, the English releases of Omega labyrinth Z were completely dropped. You can buy it in Japanese. I will gladly eat my words if you can point me to an official English PS4 release of that game aviable for sale.

@tobibra They Changed The Games Name From Z to Life

@Areus No, Life is maybe a sequel, atleast a different game. With other main characters.

Garbage woke progressive leftist propaganda, this is not a game, you brain dead trend following zombies are ruining gaming by supporting this trash.

@Sondheimist Tu quo que logical fallacy. Screaming "You too!" Doesn't invalidate his point. It actually shows that you don't have one. This game is ideological and political pandering. Who exactly painted the "straight white male" as the personification of evil? And why? Also, where are all the games that paint gay, transgender, bi, people as demons incarnate? OH those don't exist!? What would happen if they did? The U.S. AND the UK would BAN THEM. You would also see lawsuits fly to the courts.

All of these virtue signaling comments ignore the obvious.

@AdamNovice I can assure you its true.

@thefirst It's not just the lesbo thing c'mon now.

@WallyWest Pervy when men find boobs attractive? Interesting perspective. Is it pervy when women do it?

@ErisMorn0 Precisely 👌

@OGGamer When the boobs in question come from anime girls designed to look below legal age or are below legal age then yeah it is pervy and weird.

@ErisMorn0 woah there, careful you don't cut yourself on that edge....

@OGGamer people aren't being thrown from Windows and murdered for being straight white males.

As a straight white male myself, it's a little shocking that the go to reaction against anything which acknowledges that people are different from each other is to attack it. You're talking about a video game and a story which is entirely likely to be well written and acted, just enjoy it for what it is. They're not attacking you.

@eumenes There is a difference between censoring a natural thing that somebody doesn't have a choice on and censoring porn

@thefirst So only white people can survive the apocalypse?

@ErisMorn0 So now gay people literally just existing is propaganda? Propaganda for what even?

@thefirst Exactly, clickers don't care about race so it'd still be realistic for people to be alive no matter their race or sexual orientation

@WallyWest "Below legal age" Where? If it's legal age in my country is it then ok? You weirdos always make me laugh.

@Johnnycide As for your first statement. Are you sure about that?

Secondly, if the game made it so that Ellie was in a straight relationship with her boyfriend and they were both Christians who were being pursued by clickers and a gang of LGBTQ's , what would the reaction be? If you can't honestly answer this don't even bother replying. Its the same question I asked someone else who still hasn't replied. Likely because they can't answer it without being disingenuous or outright lying. Cut the BS.

@WildFierro06 Then the focus should be on survival. Not political pandering.

@OGGamer ok, so to answer that- it must be said, loaded) question:

Nobody would care apart from a small minority of easily enraged people.

The reason that ND chose to make Ellie a gay woman is because being s gay woman is normal. All that these different people are striving for is to be accepted and appreciated. Showing respect and kindness to people who have differences isn't something detrimental to your circumstances, it's something that marks you as caring. Your anger towards this is something that I do understand, but it's also something that I believe we can all build on.

If we celebrate our difference and pull those who need it up, then that's equality. That's how we build alliances and appreciate other points of view. If we choose- and I do think this is something you've chosen- to see this as an erosion of our status as one demographic, then it creates an environment where nobody is happy.

I get that you hate these "sjw" types. Believe me, I agree. I can't stand virtue signalling. The thing is, if you actually have virtue and you open yourself to other points of view, you don't need to signal that. It's just a sign that you're a person who appreciates others.

Nobody is asking you to attend Pride and scream at anyone who doesn't tick boxes, all they're saying is that as a species we can be different, and that we should value our differences as opposed to keeping one archetype as better than another.

@OGGamer Calls me a weirdo but gets off to school age anime girls, ok.

@Johnnycide A reasonable measured reply. I salute you. I don't have a problem with diversity as long as it isn't something that diversifies at the expense of other groups. Or even at the expense of the story itself. A group of Christian zealots out to kill someone because they're gay? During an apocalyptic outbreak? It seems very forced. It's also completely unnecessary.

@WallyWest You're a weirdo because masculinity is toxic to you. Now lie to me and tell me I'm wrong. A normal male biological response is described, by you, as "pervy". Soyciety has gotten to you.

I never said I got off on it. I did point out facts that made you uncomfortable enough to try and shame me for something I never said. Your deflection failed.

@OGGamer You on something? A normal adult doesn't find underage teens arousing simple, you wanna know what VG characters i find attractive? Sindel from MK11, Bayonetta, Lara Croft, Kassandra from AC Odyssey, wanna know something they all have in common? They're all women and not kids. Of course going by your comments you sound like a child yourself so hey maybe its ok for you to fancy these anime girls because you yourself are their age.

@WallyWest There's a reason those characters are drawn with adult bodies. It's a Japanese fetish. Get over it. Who are you virtue signaling for? I bet you're one of those guys who screams with the femnazis "toxic masculinity" hoping to land a date with one them. Good luck with that 👍. Women like masculine men and despise nice guys who try to get in good with them by doing everything they want. Learn that and you might land Sindel.

While you're criticising these guys who like anime girls, again, not me, you're overlooking a glaring flaw in your logic. Let's not call it a flaw. Let's calls it hypocrisy. That's more accurate. A 14 year old Ellie is sexualized in The last of us- Left behind DLC. I'll bet you have no problem with that little bit of perversion huh? She kisses another underaged girl. Easy to miss that when your head is so far up your....oh look at the time. It's the weekend! I'm going to start mine. Have a good one.