ReeDim

Pokémusician (H4XH4X0R)

Male
Oxfordshire
Seen August 22nd, 2016
Posted July 20th, 2014
61 posts
10.2 Years
I don't know the complete ins and outs of video game certification, but I'm guessing that if the next Mortal Kombat game were to be deemed too violent for an M rating, it has a few options:
  • It gets bumped up to an AO (Adults only) rating, which is used for games with very strong sexual or violent scenes.

  • The ESRB may deny certification to the game completely, essentially meaning it's banned from being sold in the US. (Though don't worry, the chances of this happening are very, very, VERY slim.)

  • The developers may be instructed to reduce the level of violence in the game, otherwise the above may occur. (This is also very unlikely.)

In my honest opinion, I don't think the ESRB will find the next Mortal Kombat game too violent for an M rating, as AO ratings and banned games in the US are very rare.
Of course, I can't say the same for countries like Australia, with very strict certification rules. Don't expect the next Mortal Kombat game to be released there.

<-- Ferry to Hoenn
<-- Hype train

Trev

i gave you everything...

Age 26
Male
Seen December 31st, 2021
Posted March 27th, 2019
1,505 posts
11 Years
Most video games that get the AO rating are given that rating mostly for extreme sexual content (ex. "Hot Coffee" in San Andreas). I looked up the list of AO games on Wikipedia and the only one I found rated AO for extreme violence was Manhunt. If it does somehow get the AO rating, it won't sell because generally, retailers don't sell AO games.
Age 35
Male
Dream World
Seen December 21st, 2016
Posted October 8th, 2016
1,638 posts
10.8 Years
Most video games that get the AO rating are given that rating mostly for extreme sexual content (ex. "Hot Coffee" in San Andreas). I looked up the list of AO games on Wikipedia and the only one I found rated AO for extreme violence was Manhunt. If it does somehow get the AO rating, it won't sell because generally, retailers don't sell AO games.
I think the AO rating for SA was ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ because Hot Coffee must be unlocked by third-party application, it isn't part of the game.


Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire, the day Pokémon pulled a Dallas and jumped the shark.

Trev

i gave you everything...

Age 26
Male
Seen December 31st, 2021
Posted March 27th, 2019
1,505 posts
11 Years
I think the AO rating for SA was ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ because Hot Coffee must be unlocked by third-party application, it isn't part of the game.
It was still programmed by the developers and it was still technically in the game, regardless of unlock conditions. It was removed in later releases and moved back down to M, though.
Most video games that get the AO rating are given that rating mostly for extreme sexual content (ex. "Hot Coffee" in San Andreas). I looked up the list of AO games on Wikipedia and the only one I found rated AO for extreme violence was Manhunt. If it does somehow get the AO rating, it won't sell because generally, retailers don't sell AO games.
Correction: Manhunt 2 was rated Adults Only. Manhunt managed to get a Mature Rating. Thrill Kill was also rated Adults Only for violence, though it was cancelled.

The odds of the latest Mortal Combat becoming too violent for a mature rating are extremely slim. Almost all of the current Ao games recived the rating for graphic nudity and/or sexual content. A few received their rating for other things (One that contained real gambling for example.) but it's still really unlikely.