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Sony explains its new policy regarding sexual content in games
Sony has a problem with sexual content on the PS4. While that was mere speculation for the last year or so (despite numerous stories saying otherwise), a recent report from the Wall Street Journal has outright confirmed the policy shift from the platform holder. In an interview with the publication, a Sony US official said, "Sony is concerned the company could become a target of legal and social action," hence the shift on sexual content.
As detailed in the report, a lot of this new policy is a reaction to the #MeToo movement. Executives at Sony are worried about the reputation of the platform if it continues to host content that sexually objectifies women. As well as social movements, Sony is concerned over the advent of streaming services allowing region-specific content to be viewed on a global scale. Since some standards only apply to certain countries, Sony doesn't want to be seen hosting a game in the US that's hyper-sexually charged.
This has obviously angered some game developers. As one unnamed [chief executive of a small game developer in Japan] told the Wall Street Journal, "You don't know what they will say until you complete the work and submit it for review. And if they are not happy, even if they allowed the same degree of sexuality a few days before, we need to take it back and ask our staff to make adjustments. That's very costly."
Also at Kotaku.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by Thexalon on Friday April 19 2019, @11:39PM (6 children)
About the only relationship between #MeToo and video game sex is that they both involve sex. #MeToo is about acknowledging that sexual assault and rape is depressingly common and trying to do something about it. Video game sex isn't real life sex, and there's not much indication that people who engage with video game sex are any more likely to engage in sexual assault or sexual violence than those who don't.
So really what this is is yet another excuse for killjoys to say that sex is bad but violence is fun, which has been the official position of popular culture for a long time now.
The only thing that stops a bad guy with a compiler is a good guy with a compiler.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday April 20 2019, @12:01AM (3 children)
Thing is, this is not a 'bad' thing. Most 'sex' in video games is cringy as fuck. Usually borderline 'hur de dur tee hee they had sex'. Rarely does it fit the game unless that is the point of the game. Every once and awhile it fits. But even then it is usually a 'what the hell is this doing here' and usually distracts from the main game.
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday April 20 2019, @01:13AM (1 child)
Call me a killjoy, but I think that because this is not to my taste, no one else should be able to enjoy it.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday April 20 2019, @01:16AM
Oh I do not disagree with that. I am more along the lines thinking perhaps they will make a better game... I can always hope. But now that I own well over a couple of thousand games my hopes are not high. I think it is usually a lame way to create controversy to get someone spun up to sell more games. Maybe I am just cynical tonight...
(Score: 3, Informative) by takyon on Saturday April 20 2019, @01:27AM
It's not really about sexual intercourse. Some examples are given in TFS. It could come down to games with "jiggle physics" and other objectification, and particularly young-looking anime characters. Possibly still cringy depending on your point of view, but different than "hot coffee" [wikipedia.org].
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday April 20 2019, @02:00AM
In 2016, Sony Interactive Entertainment (subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, which is subsidiary of Sony itself) moved headquarters from Toyko to San Mateo, California (20 miles south of San Francisco).
California.
Starting to make a bit more sense now?
(Score: 2) by The Mighty Buzzard on Saturday April 20 2019, @01:29PM
I'm still going to read it as "pound me too". Best unintended interpretation hashtag in years.
My rights don't end where your fear begins.