The Callisto Protocol's international release is set for December 2, but Japanese gamers will miss out on this "next-generation take on survival horror".
Here's what the developers, Striking Distance Studios, shared about the game's state:
The Callisto Protocol has decided to stop the release of the Japanese version. As of now, the CERO rating cannot be passed. We have decided that we would no longer be able to provide you with the experience you need. We hope everyone in Japan will understand. If you have already pre-ordered, we will refund you.
Japanese video game industry analyst, Serkan Toto, explains that this isn't the first time that the CERO has stepped in to censor western games in Japan. However, this is one of the rare instances that a game won't come out in Japan. Usually what happens is that the CERO asks developers to make two versions of the same game for Japan, a censored release and a "gory" one. But, Toto explains that even the "gory" version of a game goes through a lot of censoring compared to international and western releases despite receiving a "Z" rating for CERO.