Video game developers constantly battle against each other to push the envelope – be it through graphics, storytelling, or immersive gameplay. But, there’s an aspect where even the giants proceed with caution: content boundaries. Puppet Combo’s latest creation, Christmas Massacre, is a good example of this. This PlayStation 1-style horror game, scheduled for a PlayStation release later this month, has garnered attention not just for its macabre gameplay but also for being deemed “too scary” for Xbox and Nintendo platforms.
The developer’s dialogue with their audience via Twitter provided a peek into the controversy surrounding the game’s console exclusivity. A flamethrower-wielding Santa, the protagonist of Christmas Massacre, leaves a trail of destruction within a school, targeting children and nuns in gameplay shown in the trailer – a premise that’s raising eyebrows and pulses alike. The game’s disturbing content has stirred a debate on the limits of creative expression and platform responsibility in the gaming industry.
Puppet Combo is no stranger to the horror genre, with a catalogue that includes titles like Cannibal, which is available across PlayStation, Xbox, and Switch platforms. This makes the exclusion of Christmas Massacre from the latter two all the more puzzling. Their previous offerings have shown that the gruesome and the gory can cross platform boundaries; however, Christmas Massacre seems to have hit a nerve with both Microsoft and Nintendo, with the reports suggesting an outright block from the Xbox Store and a refusal from Nintendo, even when presented with the option to censor its content.
Christmas Massacre is a testament to the developer’s penchant for retro graphics and unabashed indulgence in horror tropes. Its description as an “80’s inspired stealth slasher” captures the essence of Puppet Combo’s intended aesthetic – a grisly throwback to the golden era of slasher films, complete with a pixelated patina that belies the stark brutality of its gameplay. It seems that the “too crazy” label applied to the game by its creators isn’t mere hyperbole, but a reflection of the reactions it has elicited from industry gatekeepers.
The game’s absence on Xbox and Switch is a fascinating case study in the different standards that the leading platforms have on game content. The developer has expressed surprise and financial loss due to the rejected Switch port, which is indicative of an unpredictability in the approval processes. The use of a PS1-inspired graphic engine doesn’t seem to be effective in mitigating the game’s intense portrayal of violence, perhaps even enhancing the shock value with its “in your face” gore.
This situation raises questions about the criteria used by different platforms to judge game content. With Nintendo and Xbox featuring titles that arguably parallel or exceed the violence in Christmas Massacre, the specific reasons behind its rejection remain a mystery. Despite the game’s PC availability on Steam, where it enjoys a “Very Positive” rating, console players on Xbox and Switch are left out in the cold.
On PlayStation, however, players will have the opportunity to delve into Christmas Massacre’s chilling narrative. Its take on festive joy, twisted as it is, serves as a stark backdrop for the stealth-based killing spree. This controversial move into the killer’s perspective is not unprecedented but remains rare and unsettling within the genre. Drawing parallels to the contentious Manhunt series by Rockstar Games, Christmas Massacre is poised to provide a similarly provocative experience to those willing to explore its dark themes.
Christmas Massacre will launch on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 on November 17.
If horror fans have their way, the release date of the Silent Hill 2 Remake will be announced soon after, preferably at The Game Awards.
